Bacterial Infections

Question 1

What is Koch’s postulates?

Answer 1

Four criteria designed to establish a causative relationship between a microbe and a disease

Question 2

What are the 4 criteria of Koch’s postulates?

MO = Microorganism

Answer 2

• The MO must be found in abundance in all organisms suffering from the disease (not healthy)
• The MO must be isolated from a diseased organism and grown in pure culture
• The cultured microorganisms should cause disease when introduced into healthy organism
• The microorganism must be reisolated from the inoculated, diseased experimental host and identified as being identical to the original specific causative agent

Question 3

What are the 4 criteria of the alternative to Koch’s postulates?

Answer 3

• A microbe should be present in sufficient numbers to initiate disease
• The microbe should generate high levels of specific antibodies
• The microbe should produce relevant virulence factors
• Elimination of the microbe should result in clinical improvement

Question 4

Explain the ecological plaque hypothesis

Answer 4

Disease is a result of a shift in the balance of the resident microflora due to a response to a change in local environmental conditions (ie pH)

Question 5

What are the two types of oral abscess?

Answer 5

• Dentoalveolar abscess

- Periodontal abscess

Question 6

What is a Dentoalveolar abscess?

Answer 6

• Infection at the apex of the roots
• Can be new or result of existing granuloma
• Could be localised in alveolar bone or spread to soft tissue

Question 7

What is a Periodontal abscess?

Answer 7

Due to occlusion of the opening of the periodontal pocket or impaction of foreign bodies in the periodontium (ie food)

Question 8

How would you treat a dentoalveolar abscess? (2)

Answer 8

• Drainage of pus and removal of source of infection by RCT

- Extraction

Question 9

How would you treat a periodontal abscess? (2)

Answer 9

• Periodontal treatment

- Extraction

Question 10

What is bacterial sialadenitis?

What can cause this? (2)

Answer 10

• Infection of a salivary gland
• Obstructing stone
• Gland hyposecretion

Question 11

What are some risk factors of bacterial sialadenitis? (3)

Answer 11

• Dehydration
• Reduced salivary flow
• Abnormalities in salivary gland

Question 12

What are the microorganisms that cause bacterial sialadenitis? (3)

Answer 12

• Staphylococcus aureus
• Alpha haemolytic Streptococcus
• Anaerobes

Question 13

How would you manage bacterial sialadenitis? (3)

Answer 13

• Prescribe antibiotics
• Increased fluid intake
• Surgical drainage (if severe)

Question 14

What is acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG)?

Answer 14

Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis is a painful infection of the gums

Question 15

What are some risk factors associated with ANUG? (6)

Answer 15

• Poor oral hygiene
• Smoking
• Stress
• Malnutrition
• Vitamin deficiency
• Immunodeficiency

Question 16

How do you manage ANUG? (4)

Answer 16

• Mechanical cleaning by scaling and debridement
• Oral hygiene improvement
• Metronidazole 200mg or Amoxicillin 500mg
• Chlorhexidine mouthwash BD

Question 17

What is NOMA?

Answer 17

Gangrene of the mouth and face

Death of tissue

Question 18

What are some risk factors associated with NOMA? (5)

Answer 18

• ANUG
• Malnutrition
• Poor Oral hygiene
• Serious illness
• Immunosuppression

Question 19

What are the 3 phases of NOMA?

Answer 19

• Acute phase
• Gangrene phase
• Scarring phase

Question 20

What is Actinomycosis

Answer 20

Infectious disease in which bacteria spread from one part of the body to another through body tissues. (Abscesses, pain, and inflammation)

Question 21

Actinomycosis is most common in the cervicofacial region. Where are other less frequent areas of this disease?

Answer 21

• CNS
• Thoracic
• Abdominal
• Pelvic

Question 22

What are some dental risk factors associated with actinomycosis? (5)

Answer 22

• Dental caries
• Extraction
• Gingivitis/Gingival trauma
• Poor oral hygiene
• Immunosuppression

Question 23

What are the treatments for actinomycosis?

Answer 23

• Surgical drainage

- Removal of dead tissue followed by long course penicillin or erythromycin

Question 24

What microorganism causes Staphylococcal mucositis?

Answer 24

Staphylococcus aureus

Question 25

What are the risk factors associated with Staphylococcal mucositis? (4)

Answer 25

- Old age - Semi-comatose - Dehydration - Crohn's disease

Question 26

What is the clinical picture for someone with Staphylococcal mucositis?

Answer 26

Start with oral discomfort and mucosal erythema, progress to wide spread crusting and bleeding of the oral mucosa

Question 27

Treatment for Staphylococcal mucositis? (2)

Answer 27

- Regular oral lavage | - Anti-staphylococcal antibiotic

Question 28

What are the 4 stages of syphilis?

Answer 28

- Primary - Secondary - Latent - Tertiary

Question 29

What is primary syphilis?

Answer 29

When a small sore appears where the bacteria has entered your body. (Resolves in 3-12 weeks)

Question 30

What is secondary syphilis?

Answer 30

Highly infectious rash spreads across the body that occur a few weeks after primary resolution. (Resolves in 2-6 weeks)

Question 31

What is latent syphilis?

Answer 31

Those not treated for syphilis, the disease moves from the secondary stage to the hidden (latent) stage, when you have no symptoms. The latent stage can last for years. Signs and symptoms may never return.

Question 32

What is tertiary syphilis?

Answer 32

When not initially treated 3-15 years after initial infection, bacteria can damage your brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones and joints.