Heart and Circulatory Diseases

cell wall of many gram-negative bacteria contain endotoxins that are released upon lysis (membrane dissolution) of the cell

causes a severe drop in blood pressure

administration of antibiotics may aggravate the condition by causing the lysis of large numbers of bacteria that release more endotoxins

nosocomial infection

infection of the uterus and is a result of childbirth or abortion

Streptococcus pyogenes

an inflammation of the endocardium (innermost layer of tissue lining the heart)

symptoms: fever, general weakness, and heart murmur

usually caused by alpha-hemolytic sstreptococci such as are common in the oral cavity

people whose heart valves are abnormal because of either congenital heart defects or such disease as rheumatic fever and syphilis, the bacteria lodge in the pre-existing lesions

within the lesions the bacteria multiply and become entrapped in blood clots that protect them from phagocytes and antibodies

usually caused by staphylococcus aureus

streptooccus pyogenes

age 4-18 and often follows an episode of streptococcal sore throat

damages the valves

Bacillus anthracis

large aerobic gram + endospore, capable of multiplying in and destroying macrophages, tx of choice is cipro or doxycycline

clostridium, thrive on dead cells from ischemic tissues, organisms produce enzymes that degrade collagen and spread the disease to adjacent tissues, Tx surgical removal of necrotic tissue removal of necrotic tissue

• Borrelia burgdorferi, vector
• tickborne, prevalent on Altlantic coast, 
• reservoir field mice, symptoms include rash at bite  site, clears in the center as it expands to
• 15cm

Tx antibiotics, w/o Tx can effect the heart and nervous system

rickettsias

vector Pediculus humanus corporis

• symptoms small red spots, subcutaneous
• hemorrhaging from blood vessel invasion

Tx , tetracycline, chloramphenicol

rickettsias

• vector: ticks, passed through
• transovarian passage

symptoms: rash on palms and soles, fever, headache

Tx: tetracycline and chloramphenicol- 

Epstien Barr-Virus

self limiting, seldom fatal,

MOT transfer: of saliva

symptoms: throat infection

yellow fever virus, zoonotic

vector: mosquito

signs and symptoms: jaundice, fever, chills

Tx: vaccine

viral, not zoonotic

vector: mosquito

milder than yellow fever, rash, musle, and joint pain

Tx: vaccine

hanta virus, spread through human body fluid

reservoir: rodent

manifests as fatal pulmonary infection filling lungs with fluid

protozoan Plasmodium

vetor: mosquito

symptoms: chills, fever, vomiting, headache

Tx: quinine derivatives

most prevalent

usually benign, lower incidence

most dangerous, cerebral marlaia