Enterococci

Most common are E. fecalis and E. fecium.  Cause inflammation at site of colonization.

Serious resistance to antibiotics.  E. fecium is now a vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE)

Bacterial endocarditis 
Endocarditis is an infection of the endocardium of the heart, most often affecting the heart valves.

A. Acute endocarditis
1. Most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
2. It occurs most frequently in intravenous drug users, where it usually affects the tricuspid valve. 

B. Subacute endocarditis

1. Most commonly caused by less virulent organisms, such as intraoral Streptococcus viridans that can be introduced systemically via dental procedures.
2. Pathogenesis: occurs when a thrombus or vegetation forms on a previously damaged or congenitally abnormal valve. These vegetations contain bacteria and inflammatory cells. Complications can arise if the thrombus embolizes, causing septic infarcts.
Other complications include valvular dysfunction or abscess formation.
3. Symptoms can remain hidden for months.
4. Valves affected (listed most to least common):
a. Mitral valve (most frequent).
b. Aortic valve.
c. Tricuspid (except in IV drug users, where the tricuspid valve is most often affected).

Eosinopenia:
Causes

-Corticoid effect (Cushing's syndrome or therapy).
-Stress.

Respiratory Pathology

A. Pulmonary infections

1. Bacterial pneumonia

a. Is an inflammatory process of infectious origin affecting the pulmonary parenchyma.

2. Bacterial infections include:

a. Streptococcus pneumoniae (most common).

b. Staphylococcus aureus.

c. Haemophilus influenzae.

d. Klebsiella pneumoniae.

e. Anaerobic bacteria from the mouth

(aspiration of oral secretions).

3. Viral infections include:

a. Influenza.

b. Parainfluenza.

c. Adenoviruses.

d. Respiratory syncytial virus.

Note: viruses can also cause pneumonia. Infection of the interstitial tissues, or interstitial pneumonia, is commonly associated with these types of infections.

Common symptoms include fever, dyspnea, and a productive cough

Two types:

(1) Lobar pneumonia

(a) Infection may spread through entire lobe(s) of lung. Intraalveolar exudates result in dense consolidations.

(b) Typical of S. pneumoniae infections.

(2) Bronchopneumonia

(a) Infection and inflammation spread through distal airways, extending from the bronchioles and alveoli. A patch distribution involving one or more lobes is observed.

(b) Typical of S. aureus, H. influenzae,and K.pneumoniae infection

Diseases that Produce a Productive Cough

Pneumonia

Lung abscess

Tuberculosis

Chronic bronchitis

Bronchiectasis

Bronchogenic carcinoma

Classification

Diseases of the respiratory system can be classified into four general areas:

• Obstructive Diseases (e.g., Emphysema, Bronchitis, Asthma)
• Restrictive Diseases (e.g., Fibrosis, Sarcoidosis, Alveolar Damage, Pleural Effusion)
• Vascular Diseases (e.g., Pulmonary Edema, Pulmonary Embolism, Pulmonary Hypertension)
• Infectious, Environmental and Other Diseases (e.g., Pneumonia, Tuberculosis, Asbestosis, Particulate Pollutants)

STREPTOCOCCAL INFECTIONS

Most streptococci are normal flora of oropharynx

Group A streptococci:  Str. pyogenes

Group B streptococci:  Str. agalactiae

Str. pneumoniae

Strep viridans group

Group D: Enterococcus (lately Strep. Fecalis and E. fecium), causes urinary tract infections,

Megaloblastic anaemia

Metabolism: B12(cyanocobalamin) is a coenzyme in DNA synthesis and for maintenance of nervous system. Daily requirement 2 micro grams. Absorption in terminal ileum in the presence gastric intrinsic factor. It is stored in liver mainly-

Folic acid (Pteroylglutamic acid) is needed for DNA synthesis.. Daily requirement 100 micro grams. Absorption in duodenum  and jejunum

Causes of deficiency .-

- Nutritional deficiency-
- Malabsorption syndrome.
- Pernicious anaemia (B12).
- Gastrectomy (B12).
- Fish tapeworm infestation (B12).
- Pregnancy and puerperium (Folic acid mainly).
- Myeloproliferative disorders (Folic acid).
- Malignancies (Folic acid).
- Drug induced (Folic-acid)

Features:

(i) Megaloblastic anaemia.
(ii) Glossitis.
(iii) Subacute combined degeneration (in B12deficiency).

Blood picture :

- Macrocytic normochromic anaemia.
- Anisocytosis and poikilocytosis with Howell-Jolly bodies and  basophilic stippling.
- Occasional megalo blasts may be-seen.
- Neutropenia with hypersegmented neutrophills and macropolycytes.
- Thrombocytopenia.
- Increased MVC and MCH with normal or decreased MCHC.

Bone marrow:

- Megaloblasts are seen. They are larger with a more open stippled chromatin. The nuclear maturation lags behind. the cytoplasmic maturation. Maturation arrest is seen (more of early forms).
- Immature cells of granulocyte series are also larger.
 -Giant stab forms (giant metamyelocytes).