Question

Case study :

Denise is a 45-year-old American female who has been admitted to the medical ward after having symptoms of food poisoning and skin rash. Her temperature has been over 38°C and she has been complaining of diarrhea and vomiting. Denise also presented with nasty looking skin rash on her upper and lower extremities. According to Denise, the skin rash has started since she swam in the Owens Lake (in California) 3 days ago. She stated that the rash started as small “red bumps” but started to get worse, deeper and more painful around a cut skin that she had sustained a week ago. She admits that she is not sure whether her current health conditions were caused by her swimming in the lake or because of the takeaway food that she also had on the same day. When Denise was asked about the takeaway food, she recalled that she thought the chicken was not fully cooked when she started eating it. Denise had a skin swab taken and a stool sample was sent for culture and sensitivity. The stool sample analysis confirmed food poisoning with Salmonella enterica and the skin swap results revealed Vibrio Cholerae skin infection.

Q1

1-In the previous case study, Denise has been diagnosed with Vibrio Cholerae skin infection.

A. Considering the factors that affect microbial growth, classify the category of bacteria that Vibrio Cholerae belongs to.

Q2

Based on the growth characteristics of this bacteria, explain how Denise acquired this type of infection.

Answer 1

Q.No.1 _ Vibrio cholerae Non-01 type

- It is curved or comma shaped Gram- negative rods. Able to produce skin and soft tissue infections. Acid labil. Live longer in water and food and contaminated.

Qn. 2. Denim had a history of swimming in lake 3 days before. The V. Cholera is present in lake water, may enter into nose and produce infection.

- there are two phases 1. Bacterial invasion. 2. Infection/ pathogenesis.  

1. In this case, V.cholerae invaded into nose, and produce proteolytic enzyme and musinase to penetrate into the nasal mucosa and underlying tissues.

2.After penetration, bacteria colonize and produce powerful toxins. The toxin causes local reactions, initially inthe form of rashes , then bullus formed.