Gram Positive Bacteria

Aka: Gram Positive Bacteria, Gram Stain Positive, Gram Positive Cocci, Gram Positive Rod, Gram Positive Spore-Forming Rod, Bacillus

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II. See Also

  1. Bacteria
  2. Gram Negative Bacteria
  3. Anaerobic Bacteria
  4. Mycobacteria
  5. Intracellular Pathogen
  6. Antibiotic

III. Pathophysiology

  1. Gram Positive Bacteria retain crystal violet stain (Gram Stain) on microscopy
    1. Thick peptidoglycan cell layer
      1. Surrounds the inner plasma membrane of Gram Positive Bacteria and retains crystal violet stain
    2. Contrast with Gram Negative Bacteria
      1. Relatively thin Peptidoglycan cell layer (does not retain the crystal violet stain)
      2. Gram Negative Bacteria are also surrrounded by an additional outer membrane
  2. Gram Positive Bacteria have two layers to their cell wall or envelope
    1. Outer Peptidoglycan cell layer
      1. Composed of repeated Disaccharides with a side chain of 4 Amino Acids
        1. Adjacent Amino Acid chains cross-link, and stabilize the peptidoglycan layer into a firm wall
      2. Transpeptidase (Penicillin binding Protein) is present in the inner cell membrane
        1. Transpeptidase is an enzyme that catalyzes Amino Acid cross-linking in the peptidoglycan layer
        2. Inhibited by Penicillin
    2. Inner cytoplasmic cell membrane
      1. Phospholipid bilayer with embedded Proteins (e.g. teichoic acid)

IV. Causes: Gram Positive Cocci

  1. Streptococcus (e.g. Streptococcus Pneumoniae)
    1. Gram+ Cocci arranged in pairs (e.g. Pneumococcus) or chains
    2. Catalase negative
  2. Staphylococcus (e.g. Staphylococcus Aureus)
    1. Gram+ Cocci arranged in clusters
    2. Catalase positive
      1. Catalase converts Hydrogen Peroxide (from Macrophages, PMNs) into water and oxygen
      2. Catalase positive organisms on a culture plate will bubble when exposed to Hydrogen Peroxide
  3. Enterococcus (Previously Group D Streptococcus)

V. Causes: Gram Positive Spore Forming Rods

  1. General
    1. Bacillus and Clostridium species may lie dormant as spores in harsh environments for years
    2. Bacillus and Clostridium species exert toxicity in humans via exotoxin release
    3. Bacillus species are aerobic, while Clostridium species are anaerobic
  2. Bacillus (aerobic)
    1. Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax)
    2. Bacillus Cereus
  3. Clostridium (anaerobic)
    1. Clostridium botulinum (Botulism)
    2. Clostridium tetani (Tetanus)
    3. Clostridium perfringens (Gas Gangrene)
    4. Clostridium sordellii (Clostridial Toxic Shock Syndrome)
    5. Clostridium difficile
      1. Recategorized as Clostridioides difficile in 2016

VI. Causes: Gram Positive Non-Spore Forming Rods

  1. Listeria monocytogenes
  2. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae
    1. Primarily a Zoonotic Pathogen (e.g. animal handlers)
  3. Corynebacteria
    1. Corynebacterium diphtheriae (diptheria)
    2. Coryneform Bacteria (Diphtheroids)
      1. Includes multiple genera in addition to Corynebacteria (e.g. Arcanobacterium, Brevibacterium, Microbacterium)
      2. Corynebacterium jeikeium
      3. Corynebacterium urealyticum
      4. Corynebacterium striatum

VII. Causes: Gram Positive Branching Organisms

  1. Actinomycetes

VIII. References

  1. Davis (1990) Microbiology, Lippincott, p. 21-50
  2. Gladwin (2014) Clinical Microbiology, Medmaster, Miami, p. 1 to 8

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Related Studies

Ontology: Bacillus <bacterium> (C0004587)

Definition (NCI_CDISC) Any bacteria that is not assigned to the species level but can be assigned to the Bacillus genus level.
Definition (NCI) A genus of bacteria within the phylum Firmicutes consisting of gram-positive bacilli that are either obligate or facultative aerobes, and test positive for the enzyme catalase.
Definition (MSH) A genus of BACILLACEAE that are spore-forming, rod-shaped cells. Most species are saprophytic soil forms with only a few species being pathogenic.
Definition (CSP) genus of bacillaceae that are spore forming, rod shaped cells; most species are saprophytic soil forms with only a few species being pathogenic.
Concepts Bacterium (T007)
MSH D001407
SnomedCT 44762009, 50394002
English Bacillus, Genus Bacillus (organism), Bacillus (organism), Bacillus Cohn 1872, bacillus [bacteria], bacilli, bacillus, Bacillus <bacterium>, Bacillus rRNA group 1, Bacterial rods, Bacilli, Bacillus (Bacteria), BACILLUS, Aerobic spore-bearer, Bacillus, NOS, Genus Bacillus, Bacilli (organism)
Swedish Bacillus
Spanish bacilo (organismo), bacilos (organismo), genero Bacillus, Bacillus, género Bacillus (organismo), genero Bacillus (organismo), género Bacillus, bacilo, bacilos
Czech Bacillus
Finnish Bacillus
Russian BATSILLY, BACILLUS, БАЦИЛЛЫ
French Bacille, Bacillus
Croatian Not Translated[Bacillus]
Polish Laseczki tlenowe, Bacillus
Norwegian Bacillus
German Bacillus
Italian Bacillus
Dutch Bacillus
Portuguese Bacillus
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Ontology: Gram-Positive Bacteria (C0018154)

Definition (MSH) Bacteria which retain the crystal violet stain when treated by Gram's method.
Definition (CSP) bacteria which retain the crystal violet stain when treated by Gram's method; see RTs for specific organisms.
Concepts Bacterium (T007)
MSH D006094
SnomedCT 8745002
LNC LP183553-9
English Gram Positive Bacteria, Gram-Positive Bacteria, GRAM POS BACT, bacteria gram-positive, bacteria gram positive, gram positive bacteria, positive gram bacteria, bacterias gram positive, gram-positive bacteria, Gram positive bacteria, Gram-positive bacterium (organism), Gram-positive bacterium, Gram-positive bacteria
French Bactéries à Gram positif, Bactérie gram-positif, Bactéries gram positif
Swedish Grampositiva bakterier
Czech grampozitivní baktérie
Finnish Grampositiiviset bakteerit
Russian BAKTERII GRAMPOLOZHITEL'NYE, GRAMPOLOZHITEL'NYE BAKTERII, AKTINOMITSETY I RODSTVENNYE ORGANIZMY, АКТИНОМИЦЕТЫ И РОДСТВЕННЫЕ ОРГАНИЗМЫ, БАКТЕРИИ ГРАМПОЛОЖИТЕЛЬНЫЕ, ГРАМПОЛОЖИТЕЛЬНЫЕ БАКТЕРИИ
Croatian Not Translated[Gram-Positive Bacteria]
Polish Bakterie Gram-dodatnie
Japanese Gram陽性菌, グラム陽性細菌, Gram陽性細菌, グラム陽性菌
Norwegian Not Translated[Gram-Positive Bacteria]
Spanish bacteria grampositiva (organismo), bacteria grampositiva, Bacterias Grampositivas
German Bakterien, grampositive, Grampositive Bakterien
Italian Batteri gram-positivi
Dutch Bacteriën, Gram-positieve, Gram-positieve bacteriën
Portuguese Bactérias Gram-Positivas
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Ontology: Gram-Positive Cocci (C0018155)

Definition (NCI) Any spherical shaped bacteria that has a peptidoglycan rich cell wall that stains dark purple with the Gram staining technique.
Definition (NCI_CDISC) Any spherical-shaped bacteria that has a peptidoglycan-rich cell wall that stains dark purple with the Gram staining technique.
Definition (MSH) Coccus-shaped bacteria that retain the crystal violet stain when treated by Gram's method.
Concepts Bacterium (T007)
MSH D006095
SnomedCT 359758009, 243225000, 59206002
English Gram Positive Cocci, Gram-Positive Cocci, GRAM POS COCCI, Gram Positive Coccus, gram-positive coccus, gram positive coccus, cocci gram positive, gram positive cocci, gram-positive cocci, GPC - Gram-positive coccus (organism), GRAM-POSITIVE COCCUS, Gram-positive coccus, GPC - Gram-positive coccus, Gram-positive cocci, Gram-positive coccus (organism), Gram-positive coccus [Ambiguous]
French Cocci à Gram positif, Cocci gram positif, Coques à Gram positif, Coques gram positif
Swedish Grampositiva kocker
Czech grampozitivní koky
Finnish Grampositiiviset kokit
Russian KOKKI GRAMPOLOZHITEL'NYE, GRAMPOLOZHITEL'NYE KOKKI, ГРАМПОЛОЖИТЕЛЬНЫЕ КОККИ, КОККИ ГРАМПОЛОЖИТЕЛЬНЫЕ
Japanese グラム陽性球菌
Italian Cocchi gram positivi, Cocchi gram-positivi
Croatian Not Translated[Gram-Positive Cocci]
Polish Ziarniaki Gram-dodatnie
Norwegian Not Translated[Gram-Positive Cocci]
Spanish coco grampositivo (organismo), coco grampositivo, Cocos Grampositivos
German Grampositive Kokken
Dutch Gram-positieve kokken, Kokken, Gram-positieve
Portuguese Cocos Gram-Positivos
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Ontology: Gram-Positive Rods (bacteria) (C0085498)

Definition (NCI) Any rod shaped bacteria that has a peptidoglycan rich cell wall that stains dark purple with the Gram staining technique.
Definition (NCI_CDISC) Any rod-shaped bacteria that has a peptidoglycan-rich cell wall that stains dark purple with the Gram staining technique.
Definition (MSH) A large group of rod-shaped bacteria that retains the crystal violet stain when treated by Gram's method.
Concepts Bacterium (T007)
MSH D016987
SnomedCT 416634002, 83514008
English Gram Positive Rods, Gram-Positive Rods, GRAM POS RODS, Gram-Positive Rod, GPR, Gram-Positive Rods (bacteria), gram positive rod, gram positive bacillus, gram positive rods, Gram Positive Bacillus, Miscellaneous Gram-positive bacillus, Miscellaneous Gram-positive rod, Miscellaneous Gram-positive bacillus (organism), GRAM-POSITIVE BACILLUS, Gram-positive bacillus, Gram-positive rod, GPB - Gram-positive bacillus, Gram-positive rods, Gram-positive bacillus (organism)
French Bâtonnets à Gram positif, Bâtonnets gram positif
Swedish Grampositiva stavar
Czech grampozitivní tyčinky
Finnish Gram-positiiviset sauvat
Russian PALOCHKI GRAMPOLOZHITEL'NYE, GRAMPOLOZHITEL'NYE PALOCHKI, ГРАМПОЛОЖИТЕЛЬНЫЕ ПАЛОЧКИ, ПАЛОЧКИ ГРАМПОЛОЖИТЕЛЬНЫЕ
Spanish Bacilos Grampositivos, bacilos grampositivos variados (organismo), bacilos grampositivos variados, Bastones Grampositivos, bacilo grampositivo (organismo), bacilo grampositivo
Croatian Not Translated[Gram-Positive Rods]
Polish Pałeczki Gram-dodatnie
Japanese グラム陽性桿菌類, グラム陽性桿菌
Norwegian Not Translated[Gram-Positive Rods]
German Grampositive Stäbchen
Italian Bastoncelli gram-positivi
Dutch Grampositieve staafjes, Staafjes, Grampositieve
Portuguese Bacilos Gram-Positivos
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Ontology: Gram-positive spore-forming bacillus (C0314748)

Concepts Bacterium (T007)
SnomedCT 44143003
English Gram-positive spore-forming bacillus, Gram-positive spore-forming bacillus (organism)
Spanish bacilo grampositivo esporulador, bacilo grampositivo formador de esporas (organismo), bacilo grampositivo formador de esporas
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Ontology: Gram stain positive (C0855278)

Concepts Laboratory or Test Result (T034)
Italian Colorazione di Gram positiva
Japanese グラム染色陽性, ｸﾞﾗﾑｾﾝｼｮｸﾖｳｾｲ
Czech Gramovo barvení pozitivní
English Gram stain positive
Hungarian Gram festés pozitív
Dutch Gramkleuring positief
Portuguese Coloração de Gram positiva
Spanish Tinción de Gram positiva
French Coloration de Gram positive
German Gram-Faerbung positiv
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Related Topics in Bacterial Infections

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