Essays on Gram-Negative Bacteria

Infection in cancer patient with febrile neutropenia: epidemiology, microbiology and management

Abstract Febrile neutropenia (FN) is characterised by a decrease in neutrophils number to values below 500 cells/ mm3 and an occurrence of fever higher or similar to 38.3ºC. It commonly occurs in cancer patients as a result of chemotherapy regimens. Chemotherapy destroys carcinogenic cells but also attacks in many cases some normal cells including essential elements of the immune system. Fever is one of the characteristic symptoms of FN and is usually associated with the presence of an infection caused by various microorganisms. Bacteria, including Gram-positive isolates (currently dominating) and Gram-negative species (dominant in the 1970s), are usually ...

Chapter 4: Prokaryotic Cells and microorganisms

This chapter looks at the morphology, and pathogenic mechanisms of prokaryotic cells and microorganisms respectively. It discusses in detail the structural components, functions of the different organelles of prokaryotic cells as well as feeding and survival mechanisms of prokaryotic microorganisms.

Prokaryotic cells have a specialized cellular structure. Prokaryotes are unicellular and their cells have no cellular organelles, that is, a membrane does not surround their nucleus. These cells contain intricate phospholipids, sterols, and sphingolipids. They are typically 1-5µm in diameter .

Their outer surface is covered by glycocalyx, which is a gel like cellular envelope that provides prokaryotic cells with protection against ...

English

Fighting Superbugs; more refined tactics need to be discovered Frequent use of antibiotics promotes growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria or superbugs. These bacteria are immune to the strongest medications. Despite the great progress in healthcare and medical technology, antibiotic resistant bacteria still need to be addressed very effectively. Superbugs are at rage against the humankind. An estimated one in twenty, or five percent, of patients now pick up a threatening superbug infection from the hospitals and this number is rising all the time. A recent study has shown that more than 1.7 million patients in the United States develop ...

Introduction

Ciproflaxins (or simply Cipro) are a known second-generation of fluoroquinolones. Fluoroquilones, or more generally quinolones, are known as potent chemical agents against Gram-negative bacteria, widely used as a treatment of bacterial infections (Ball, 2000). Ciproflaxins have a wider spectrum of in vitro antibacterial activity and are effective in the treatment of many types of infection associated with Gram-negative bacteria, specifically respiratory tract infections. It is also known to treat anthrax in people (Hilts, 2001). In a livestock and other animals, a drug which is chemically similar to Cipro is commonly used, known as Baytril. The primary target of Cipro and Baytril and other ...