|
|
|
|
|
|
Community-acquired pneumonia: Epidemiology - Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a serious illness. It is the fourth most common cause of death in the UK, and sixth in the USA. 85% of cases of CAP are caused by the typical bacterial pathogens, namely, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. The remaining 15% are caused by atypical pathogens, namely Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Legionella species. Unusual aerobic gram-negative bacilli (for example, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter) rarely cause CAP. Clinical features - typical symptoms include cough, purulent sputum production, shortness of breath, pleuritic chest pain, fevers and chills. On examination, one notes rapid respiratory rate and heart rate and signs of pulmonary consolidation. Koch did not believe that bovine (cattle) and human tuberculosis were similar, which held back the recognition of infected milk as a source of infection. Later, this source was eliminated by pasteurization. Koch announced a glycerine extract of the tubercle bacilli as a 'remedy' for tuberculosis in 1890, calling it tuberculin. It was not effective, but was later adapted by von Pirquet for a test for pre-symptomatic tuberculosis. The first genuine success in immunizing against tuberculosis developed from attenuated bovine strain tuberculosis by Albert Calmette and Camille Guerin in 1906 was BCG (Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin). It was first used on humans on July 18, 1921 in France, although national arrogance prevented its widespread use in either the USA, Great Britain, or Germany until after World War II. Click on following items to see more information: Acinetobacter, Bactericidal, Antibiotics, Antibiotics, Bactericidal, Bacillus, Microorganism, Microorganism, Bacteriological, Microorganisms, Biofilters, Campylobacter, Cell cultures, Citrobacter, Cryptococci, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli, Eubacter, Yeasts, Yeasts, Haemophilus, Lactobacillus, Minimal inhibiting concentration, Microbiological, Microflora, Multidrug resistant, Penicillin, Propionibacter, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, S. cerevisiae, S. cerevisiae, Salmonella, Salmonellosis, Staphylococcus, Staphylococcus, Streptococci, Streptomycin, Wastewater The Hydrogenophilaceae are a small family of Proteobacteria, with two genera. Hydrogenophilus are thermophilic, growing around 50°C, and obtain their energy from oxidizing hydrogen. The genus Thiobacillus, redefined to include only those species included among the beta proteobacteria, is also included here. Other members of Thiobacillus were transfred to Acidithiobacillus, Halothiobacillus and Thermithiobacillus, now placed in other families. The Enterobacteriaceae are a large family of bacteria, including many of the more familiar pathogens, such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli. Genetic studies place them among the Proteobacteria, and they are given their own order (Enterobacteriales), though this is sometimes taken to include some related environmental samples. Not all contaminants are readily treated through the use of bioremediation; for example, heavy metals such as cadmium and lead are not readily absorbed or captured by organisms. The integration of metals such as mercury into the food chain may make things worse as organisms bioaccumulate these metals. However, there are a number of advantages to bioremediation, which may be employed in areas which cannot be reached easily without excavation. For example, hydrocarbon spills (or more specific: gasoline) may contaminate groundwater well below the surface of the ground; injecting the right organisms, in conjunction with oxygen-forming compounds, may significantly reduce concentrations after a period of time. This is much less expensive than excavation followed by burial elsewhere or incineration, and reduces or eliminates the need for pumping and treatment, which is a common practice at sites where hydrocarbons have contaminated groundwater.
|
© 2005
Transgalactic Ltd (manufacturer of Bioscreen C software) |
Privacy Statement | P.O. Box
1393, 00101 Helsinki, Finland,
Last modified: May 25, 2005
| ||||||
