Bacteria Causing Respiratory tract infection

Disease

Causative Pathogen

Signs and Symptoms

Transmission

Diagnostic Tests

Vaccine

Acute otitis media (AOM)

Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, others

Earache, possible effusion; may cause fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

Often a secondary infection; bacteria from respiratory tract become trapped in eustachian tube, cause infection

None

None

Diphtheria

Corynebacterium diphtheria (gram +)

Pseudomembrane on throat, possibly leading to suffocation and death

Inhalation of respiratory droplets or aerosols from infected person

Identification of bacteria in throat swabs; PCR to detect diphtheria toxin in vitro

DtaP, Tdap, DT, Td, DTP

Legionnaires disease

Legionella pneumophila(gram –)

Cough, fever, muscle aches, headaches, nausea, vomiting, confusion; sometimes fatal

Inhalation of aerosols from contaminated water reservoirs

Isolation, using Warthin-Starry procedure, of bacteria in sputum

None

Pertussis (whooping cough)

Bordetella pertussis(gram –)

Severe coughing with “whoop” sound; chronic cough lasting several months; can be fatal in infants

Inhalation of respiratory droplets from infected person

Direct culture of throat swab, PCR, ELISA

DTaP, Tdap

Q fever

Coxiella burnetii

High fever, coughing, pneumonia, malaise; in chronic cases, potentially fatal endocarditis

Inhalation of aerosols of urine, feces, milk, or amniotic fluid of infected cattle, sheep, goats

PCR, ELISA

None

URI/Streptococcal pharyngitis, scarlet fever

Streptococcus pyogenes(gram +)

Fever, sore throat, inflammation of pharynx and tonsils (mucosal membranes of the pharynx are damaged by the release of a variety of exoenzymes and exotoxins by this pathogen), petechiae, swollen lymph nodes; skin rash (scarlet fever), strawberry tongue

Direct contact, inhalation of respiratory droplets or aerosols from infected person

Direct culture of throat swab, rapid enzyme immunoassay

None

Tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis(acid-fast, high G + C, gram+, nonspore-forming rod)

Formation of tubercles in lungs; rupture of tubercles, leading to chronic, bloody cough; healed tubercles (Ghon complexes) visible in radiographs; can be fatal

Inhalation of respiratory droplets or aerosols from infected person

Mantoux tuberculin skin test with chest radiograph to identify Ghon complexes

BCG

Notes

PNEUMONIA:-  Itis a term for infections of the lungs that lead to inflammation and accumulation of fluids and WBC in the alveoli. Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other organisms, but most of the majority of pneumonias are bacterial in origin.

Disease

Pathogen

Signs and Symptoms

Transmission

Diagnostic Tests

Vaccine

Chlamydial pneumonia

Chlamydophila pneumoniae, C. psittaci, Chlamydia trachomatis

Bronchitis; mild to severe respiratory distress

Inhalation of respiratory droplets or aerosols from infected person (C. pneumoniae); exposure to infected bird (C. psittaci); exposure in the birth canal (Chlamydia trachomatis)

Tissue culture, PCR

None

Haemophilus pneumonia

Haemophilus influenza(gram –)

Cough, fever or low body temperature, chills, chest pain, headache, fatigue

Inhalation of respiratory droplets or aerosols from infected person or asymptomatic carrier

Culture on chocolate agar, serotyping of blood or cerebrospinal fluid samples

Hib

Klebsiella pneumonia

Klebsiella pneumoniae, others

Lung necrosis, “currant jelly” sputum; often fatal

Health care associated; bacteria introduced via contaminated ventilators, intubation, or other medical equipment

Culture, PCR

None

Mycoplasma pneumonia (walking pneumonia)

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Low fever, persistent cough

Inhalation of respiratory droplets or aerosols from infected person

Culture with penicillin, thallium acetate

None

Pneumococcal pneumonia

Streptococcus pneumoniae(gram +)

Productive cough, bloody sputum, fever, chills, chest pain, respiratory distress

Direct contact with respiratory secretions

Gram stain, blood agar culture with optichin and sodium deoxycholate, quellung reaction

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23)

Pseudomonas pneumonia

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Viscous fluid and chronic inflammation of lungs; often fatal

Health care associated; bacteria introduced via contaminated ventilators; also frequently affects patients with cystic fibrosis

Culture from sputum or other body fluid

None