Microbiology Mnemonics

Microbiology Mnemonics

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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

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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/

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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

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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

• • 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

 

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

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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

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H

Hepatitis: oral-fecal transmitted types: “A$$ Eaters”:

• ­ Types A and E by oral-fecal route.
  • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

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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

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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/

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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

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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.

• • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/

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O

Obligate anaerobes: members worth knowing: ABC:

• Actinomyces
• Bacteroides
• Clostridium
  • Author: Sung Hoon Kim El Paso, TX

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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/

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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

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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.

• • Author: Robert O’Connor University College Dublin

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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.

• • 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

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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

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V

Vibrio: motility: “Vibrio Vibrates”:

• Vibrio is a genus of actively motile bacteria.
  • Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/