BIOLOGY

A Thorough Reference On Bacterial Infections And Their Symptoms

Author: Henry Smith
Posted on: 8 Oct 2022

Organism Genus Species		Gram Reaction	Morphology	Diseases Caused	Symptoms of Disease
Bacillus	B. cereus	Gram- Positive	rod-shaped bacilli with square ends Flagella driven motility	Foodborne illnesses such as the emetic (vomiting) syndrome and the diarrhoeal syndrome.	severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea due to indigestion of the infected food
Bacillus	B. Anthracis	Gram-Positive	Rod-shaped bacterium endospore-forming	Anthrax: Pulmonary Anthrax, Gastrointestinal Anthrax Usually caused to livestock and human beings	Fever and chills run through the body Discomfort in Chest Shortness of breath Confusion or dizziness Cough Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pains Headache Sweats (often drenching)
Bartonella henselae	B. henselae	Gram- Negative	Rod-shaped bacteria No flagella Twitching motility	cat-scratch disease (bartonellosis)	papule at the site where the microbe entered aches, nausea, and abdominal pain, malaise
Bordetella	B. pertussis	Gram-Negative	rod-shaped, coccoid Motile	Respiratory infections such as pertussis or whooping cough	Rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound. Vomiting during or after coughing fits. Exhaustion after coughing fits
Borrelia	B. burgdorferi	Gram-Negative	Rod-shaped bacteria with helical flagella spirochete bacterium	Lyme disease caused by black-legged ticks	fever, headache, fatigue It causes a skin rash called erythema migrans.
Campylobacter	C. Jejuni	Gram- Negative	slender rods have one or more helical turns Motile common spirillum bacterium	Campylobacter or human gastroenteritis (Foodborne disease)	inflammatory, sometimes bloody diarrhoea mostly including stomach cramps, fever and pain
Chlamydia	C. trachomatis	Gram- Negative	coccoid or rod-shaped and require growing cells to remain sustainable	Pelvic inflammatory disease Chlamydia Infection near the testicles (epididymitis). Prostate gland infection Ectopic pregnancy Infertility Reactive arthritis	Painful urination Vaginal discharge in women Discharge from the penis in men Painful sexual intercourse in women Bleeding between periods and after sex in women Testicular pain in men
Clostridium	C.Botulinum	Gram-Positive	Cells of most strains occur as straight or slightly curved rods Motile with the help of peritrichous flagella	Botulism	Paralysis Poisoning Difficulty swallowing Muscle weakness Double vision Drooping eyelids Blurry vision Slurred speech Difficulty breathing Difficulty moving the eyes
Clostridium	C. difficile	Gram- Positive	Rod-shaped motile by peritrichous flagella and spore-forming in nature	Clostridioides Severe diarrhoea and colitis (inflammation of the colon)	Watery diarrhoea ( in worst cases10 to 15 times a day) Abdominal cramping and pain, which may be severe Rapid heart rate Dehydration Fever Nausea Increased white blood cell count Kidney failure Loss of appetite Swollen abdomen Weight loss Blood or pus in the stool
Clostridium	C. perfringens	Gram- Positive	Rod-shaped Spore forming	Food poisoning Diarrhea	diarrhoea and stomach cramps profuse vomiting (instant vomiting after intake of food) indigestion of food nausea
Clostridium	C. tetani	Gram-Positive	Enlarged and tennis racket- or drumstick-shaped when forming spores Usually rod-shaped Motile with the help of flagella	Tetanus	Jaw cramping. Sudden involuntary muscle tightening (muscle spasms) – often in the stomach Painful muscle stiffness all over the body Trouble swallowing Jerking or staring (seizures) Headache Fever and sweating Changes in blood pressure and fast heart rate
Corynebacterium	C. diphtheria	Gram-Positive	non-motile, non-encapsulated, non-sporulating rod-shaped	Diphtheria	Difficulty breathing Heart failure Paralysis and even death
Gardnerella	G. vaginalis	Gram-Variable	Non-motile Slow growing bacillus Non-spore-forming	Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)	Thin, grey, white or green vaginal discharge. Foul-smelling “fishy” vaginal odour. Vaginal itching. Burning during urination.
Haemophilus	H. influenzae	Gram-Negative	bacilli or coccobacilli with random arrangements rod-shaped	Pneumonia Bloodstream infection. Meningitis. Epiglottitis Cellulitis Infectious arthritis	swelling in the throat inflammation of the joint Fever and chills. Excessive tiredness. Pain in the belly. Nausea with or without vomiting. Diarrhea. Anxiety. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Altered mental status (confusion) Fever
Helicobacter pylori	H. pylori	Gram-Negative	Spiral-shaped or helix-shaped Curved or straight rods Motile with the help of its flagella	Peptic ulcer Chronic gastritis Risk factors for gastric carcinoma and Gastric B-cell lymphoma	Burning pain in your stomach after eating anything Unplanned weight loss. Bloating Nausea and vomiting (bloody vomit) Indigestion (dyspepsia) Burping Loss of appetite Dark stools
Klebsiella	K. pneumoniae	Gram-Negative	Non- Motile rod-shaped bacterium	Urinary tract infection (UTI), Pneumonia Intra-abdominal infection, Bloodstream infection (BSI), Meningitis Pyogenic liver abscess	Fever Chills Coughing Yellow or bloody mucus Shortness of breath Chest pain Burning while urination
Legionella	L. pneumophila	Gram- Negative	Thin pleomorphic Flagellated Non-spore forming	Legionnaires’ disease	Cough shortness of breath high fever muscle pains, and headaches Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea may also occur.
Listeria	L. monocytogenes	Gram- Positive	Non-spore-forming Motile Rod-shaped bacterium.	Listeriosis Sepsis Meningitis Encephalitis Intrauterine infections Spontaneous abortions in pregnant women	Headache. Stiff neck. Confusion or changes in alertness. Loss of balance. Convulsions
Mycobacterium	M. leprae	Gram-Positive	Rod-shaped bacterium Parallel sides and rounded ends	Hansen’s disease (Leprosy)	Discoloured patches of skin, usually flat, that may be numb and look faded (lighter than the skin around) Growths (nodules) on the skin. Thick, stiff or dry skin Painless ulcers on the soles of feet Painless swelling or lumps on the face or earlobes. Loss of eyebrows or eyelashes
Mycobacterium	M. tuberculosis	Gram- Positive	Non-motile Large rod-shaped bacterium	Tuberculosis	Phlegm producing cough Weight loss. Night sweats. High temperature. Tiredness and fatigue. Loss of appetite. Swelling around the neck
Mycoplasma	M. pneumoniae	Gram-Negative	Elongated Shape or spindle-shaped pleomorphic bacterium	Mycoplasma pneumonia Primary atypical pneumonia, Tracheobronchitis and upper respiratory tract disease	sore throat and hoarseness, fever produce non-bloody sputum in the worst case, it causes ulceration and
Neisseria	N. gonorrhoeae	Gram- Negative	coccus, which is present in pairs (diplococci) kidney/coffee bean shape	Gonorrhea	discharge from the vagina (watery, creamy, or slightly green) Pain or burning sensation while urinating. Heavier periods or spotting Sore throat pain during sexual intercourse sharp pain in the lower abdomen Fever
Neisseria	N. meningitidis	Gram-negative	Coffee-bean shaped diplococci	Meningitis Meningococcemia	Fever and chills. Fatigue (feeling tired) Vomiting. Cold hands and feet. Severe aches or pain in the muscles, joints, chest, or abdomen (belly) Rapid breathing. Diarrhea.
Providencia	P. Stuartii	Gram- Negative	Straight rod Flagellate bacterium	Urinary tract infections	Fever, dry mucous membranes, suprapubic tenderness, and flank pain in pyelonephritis
Pseudomonas	P. aeruginosa	Gram- Negative	Rod-shaped bacterium	Malignant external otitis Endophthalmitis Endocarditis Meningitis Pneumonia Septicemia	Ears: pain and discharge. Skin: rash, which can include pimples filled with pus. Eyes: pain, redness, swelling. Bones or joints: joint pain and swelling; neck or back pain that lasts weeks. Wounds: green pus or discharge that may have a fruity smell. Digestive tract: headache, diarrhoea.
Rickettsia	R. rickettsia	Gram- Negative	Rod-shaped or variably spherical, non-filterable bacteria Non-motile	Tibola Lymphangitis-associated rickettsiosis Epidemic typhus Sylvatic typhus Murine typhus	Sudden fever, chills, and headache Malaise and myalgia Nausea, vomiting
Salmonella Serotype Enteritidis	S. Enteritidis	Gram- Negative	Rod-shaped non-motile bacteria non- spore formation	Gastroenteritis	Diarrhea, fever Abdominal cramps
Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi	S. Typhi	Gram- Negative	Enteric rod Motile	Typhoid fever	Sustained fever Weakness, stomach pains Headache, loss of appetite
Staphylococcus	S. aureus	Gram- Positive	Round-shaped bacterium	Impetigo Boils Cellulitis Folliculitis Carbuncles Scalded skin syndrome Abscesses Pneumonia Septic arthritis Toxic shock syndrome	blisters, abscesses, and redness and swelling fever, rash, dangerously low blood pressure
Streptococcus	S. mutans	Gram- Positive	Round bacterium Appear in chains	Dental Carries Bacteremia Infective endocarditis	Fever, chills, sweats Anorexia weight loss, Malaise
Streptococcus	S. Pneumoniae	Gram-Positive	lancet-shaped Non-Motile 100 known serotypes	Pneumonia Meningitis	Fever, Cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, stiff neck, Confusion increased sensitivity to light, joint pain, chills, ear pain Irritating behaviour In severe cases, hearing loss, Brain damage and death
Streptococcus	S.pyogenes	Gram- Positive	Round-shaped (Cocci) Extracellular non-motile non-sporing	Pharyngitis tonsillitis Scarlet fever Cellulitis, erysipelas Rheumatic fever, Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis Necrotizing fasciitis Myonecrosis Lymphangitis.	Cough. Rhinorrhea. Hoarseness. Oral ulcers. Conjunctivitis Body ache Blur vision High fever Unable to gulp food
Treponema	T. pallidum	Gram- Negative	spirochete bacterium helically coiled	Syphilis Bejel Yaws	Fever Swollen lymph glands, sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches, and fatigue
Vibrio	V. Cholerae	Gram-Negative	Highly Motile Comma shaped	Cholera	Profuse watery diarrhoea, Vomiting Thirsty feeling Leg Cramps Restlessness or irritability
Yersinia	Y. pestis	Gram- Negative	Non-Motile Coccobacillus bacterium Without spores	Plague Bubonic Plague Pneumonic Plague	Fever, chills, head and body aches, weakness, vomiting and nausea.

(“Table”) (“What Are the Five Pathogens?”)

(Diseases and Conditions – Mayo Clinic)

Works Cited

Ryan, Kenneth J., et al. “Pathogenesis of bacterial infections.” Sherris Medical Microbiology (6th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill Education (2014): 391.

Diseases and Conditions – Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions. Accessed 2 Nov. 2021.

“Table: Classification of Common Pathogenic Bacteria.” MSD Manual Professional Edition, https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/multimedia/table/v56223215. Accessed 25 Oct. 2021.

“What Are the Five Pathogens?” MedicineNet, https://www.medicinenet.com/what_are_the_five_pathogens/article.htm. Accessed 25 Oct. 2021.