Microbiology Mnemonics
A
Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis: classic presentation: “Sore throat, Face bloat, Pi$$ coke“:
- Sore throat: 1 week ago
- Face bloat: facial edema
- Pi$$ coke: coke-coloured urine
- Alternatively, short version: “Throat, bloat and coke“.
- Author: Robert O’Connor University College Dublin
C
Chlamydia: elementary vs. initial body location
- Elementary: Extracellular
- Initial: Intracellular
- Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/
Common cold: viral causes: “Common cold (acute infectious rhinitis, coryza) is PRIMArily caused by”:
- Paramyxoviruses
- Rhinoviruses
- Influenza viruses
- Myxoviruses
- Adenoviruses
- Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/
D
DNA viruses: morphology rule of thumb: DNA:
- Double-stranded
- Nuclear replication
- ‘Anhedral symmetry
- Rule breakers: pox (cytoplasmic), parvo (single-stranded).
- Author: Robert O’Connor University College Dublin
E
coli: major subtypes, key point of each: “HIT by E. coli outbreak”:
- EnteroHemorrhagic:
- HUS from Hamburgers
- EnteroInvasive:
Immune-mediated Inflammation
- EnteroToxigenic:
Traveller’s diarrhea
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- Author: Robert O’Connor University College Dublin
Entameoba histolytica: disease caused, action: EntAmoeba causes Amoebic dysEnt
-
- Action: histo (cell) lytic (burst), so it bursts cells.
- Author: Robert O’Connor University College Dublin
- Action: histo (cell) lytic (burst), so it bursts cells.
Endocarditis: indications for surgery: PUS RIVER:
- Prosthetic valve endocarditis (most cases)
- Uncontrolled infection
- Supporative local complications with conduction abnormalities
- Resection of mycotic aneurysm
- Ineffective antimicrobial therapy (eg Vs fungi)
- Valvular damage (significant)
- Embolization (repeated systemic)
- Refractory congestive heart failure
- Author: David Lucey University College Dublin
Endocarditis: lab results suggesting it: “High Tech Lab Results Point At Endocarditis”:
- Hematuria
- Thrombocytopenia
- Leukocytosis, -penia
- Red blood cell casta
- Proteinuria
- Anemia
- Elevated ESR
- Author: David Lucey University College Dublin
Endotoxin features: ENDOTOXIN:
- Endothelial cells/ Edema
- Negative (gram- bacteria)
- DIC/ Death
- Outer membrane
- TNF
- O-antigen
- X-tremely heat stable
- IL-1
- Nitric oxide/ Neutrophil chemotaxis
- Author: Rinku Uberoi UNIBE
G
Gram+: bacterial cell wall: Gram+ has:
- +hick pepidoglycan layer.
- +eichoic acid in wall.
- Author: Gilvano Amorim Oliveira Universidade de santo Amaro- São Paulo Brasil.
Gardnerella and Vaginalis vaginal infection diagnosis: “Take a whiff and get a clue for fishy bacteria”:
- Smells like fish (whiff test); clue cells seen under microscope.
- Gardnerella= Gram negative.
- Vaginalis= V
- Author: Rinku S Uberoi UNIBE
H
Hepatitis: oral-fecal transmitted types: “A$$ Eaters”:
- Types A and E by oral-fecal route.
- Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/
I
IgA protease-producing bacteria: “Nice Strip of Ham“:
- Neisseria
- Streptococcus pneumonia
- Haemophilus influenza
- Author: Marc Miller Sackler School of Medicine
Influenza infection: clinical manifestations: “Having Flu Symptoms Can Make Moaning Children A Nightmare”:
- Headache
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Chills
- Myalgias
- Malaise
- Cough
- Anorexia
- Nasal congestion
- Author: David Lucey University College Dublin
K
Klebsiella details: You tell the patient: “Get UPS you fat alcoholic“:
- UTI
- Pneumonia
- Sepsis
- Fat capsule
- Get up=nonmotile since no flagella.
- Alcoholic=commonly seen in alcoholic and nosocomial patients.
- Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/
M
Meningitis: risk factors: “Can Induce Severe Attacks Of Head PAINS“:
- Cancer
- Immunocompromised state
- Sinusitis
- Age extremes
- Otitis
- Head trauma
- Parameningeal infection
- Alcoholism
- Infections (systemic, esp. respiratory)
- Neurosurgical procedures
- Splenectomy
- Author: David Lucey University College Dublin
N
Neisseria: fermentation of N. gonorrhoeae vs. N. meningitides: Gonorrhoeae: Glucose fermenter only.
- MeninGitidis: Maltose and Glucose fermenter.
Maltose fermentation is a useful property to know, since it’s the classic test to distinguish the Neisseria types.
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- Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/
O
Obligate anaerobes: members worth knowing: ABC:
- Actinomyces
- Bacteroides
- Clostridium
- Author: Sung Hoon Kim El Paso, TX
P
Psedomonas aeruginosa: features: AERUGINOSA:
- Aerobic
- Exotoxin A
- Rod/ Resistance
- UTIs, burns, injuries
- Green-blue dressings
- Iron-containing lesions
- Negative gram
- Odor of grapes
- Slime capsule sometimes (in CF pt)
- Adherin pili
- Author: Joyce Egbe
Proteus: disease caused: Firstly, “PROTeus hates PROTons”:
- So what does it do to fight the protons? It has a urease that raises the pH.
- Urea is in urine, so Proteus causes UTIs.
- Author: James Meltzer MSII, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Picornavirus: features: PICORNAvirus:
- Positive sense
- ICOsahedral
- RNA virus
- Author: Khawaja Atif Farooq Rawalpindi Medical College, Pakistan, Gujranwala
Pneumonia: acute pneumonia infiltrates from different causes: “Pyrogenic=PMN, Miscellaneous=Mononuclear”:
- Acute pneumonia caused by Pyogenic bacteria: PMN infiltrate.
- Acute pneumonia caused by Miscellaneous microbes: Mononuclear infiltrate.
- Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/
R
RNA viruses: negative stranded: “Orthodox Rhabbi’s Party Around Fine Bunnies”:
- Orthomyxo
- Rhabdo
- Paramyxo
- Arena
- Filo
- Bunya
- Author: Rodolfo Chirinos Universidad Central del Caribe, PR
RNA viruses: positive stranded: “Pico Called Flavio To Return Renzo’s Corona“:
- Picorna
- Calici
- Flavi
- Toga
- Retro
- Reo
- Corona
- Author: Rodolfo Chirinos Universidad Central del Caribe, PR
S
Staphylococcus aureus: diseases caused: SOFT PAINS:
- Skin infections
- Osteomyelitis
- Food poisoning
- Toxic shock syndrome
- Pneumonia
- Acute endocarditis
- Infective arthritis
- Necrotizing fasciitis
- Sepsis
- Author: Marc Miller Sackler School of Medicine
Streptococci: classification by hemolytic ability: Gamma: Garbage (no hemolytic activity).
- Alpha: Almost (almost lyse, but incomplete).
- Beta: Best (complete lysis).
- Author: Robert O’Connor University College Dublin
Streptococcus pyogenes: diseases caused: NIPPLES:
- Necrotising fasciitis and myositis
- Impetigo
- Pharyngitis
- Pneumonia
- Lymphangitis
- Erysipelas and cellulitis
- Scarlet fever/ Streptococcal TSS
- Author: Harsh Sharma
Streptococcus pyogenes: virulence factors: SMASHED: Streptococci: Quellung reaction: positive sign, Strep type confirmed: “Quell-lung“:
- Quell: Capsules swell [+ve test].
- Lung: S. pnuemonia [type confirmed].
You get pneumonia in your lung.
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- Author: Robert O’Connor University College Dublin
T
Teratogens: placenta-crossing organisms: ToRCHeS:
- Toxoplasma
- Rubella
- CMV
- Herpes simplex, Herpes zoster (varicella), Hepatitis B,C,E
- Syphilis
Alternatively: TORCHES: with Others (parvo, listeria), add HIV to H’s, Enteroviruses.
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- Author: Andrew J. Vasil UMD School of Medicine, Duluth, MN
Trichomaniasis: features: 5 F’s:
- Flagella
- Frothy discharge
- Fishy odor (sometimes)
- Fornication (STD)
- Flagyl (metronidazole) Rx
- Author: Rinku Uberoi
U
UTI-causing microorganisms: KEEPS:
- Klebsiella
- Enterococcus faecalis/ Enterobacter cloacae
- E. coli
- Pseudomonas aeroginosa/ Proteus mirabilis
- Staphylococcus saprophyticcus/ Serratia marcescens
- Author: Kok Fai Kong University of Auckland
Urease positive organisms: PUNCH:
- Proteus (leads to alkaline urine)
- Ureaplasma (renal calculi)
- Nocardia
- Cryptoccocus (the fungus)
- Helicobacter pylori
- Author: Enrique Cifuentes Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
V
Vibrio: motility: “Vibrio Vibrates”:
- Vibrio is a genus of actively motile bacteria.
- Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/
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