Microbiology Mnemonics: Simplifying Bacteria, Viruses, and More

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

- 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

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.

- 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.

- 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.

- 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