Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

E. rhusiopathiae is a gram positive, catalase-negative, rod-shaped bactrium which is facultative anaerobe.

On Gram stains it sometimes looks gram-negative because it decolorizes easily. The bacteria may appear singly, in short chains, randomly, or in long nonbranching filaments.
Erysipelothrix is oxidase-, and indole-negative. It produce hydrogen sulfide, turning the TSI butt black. E rhusiopathiae must be differentiated from L monocytogenes, but the later is beta -hemolytic and do not produce hydrogen sulfide when grown on TSI medium.

 E. rhusiopathiae has a worldwide distribution in land and sea animalsbut it is primarily considered an animal pathogen, causing a disease known as erysipelas in animals (and erysipeloid in humans). E rhusiopathiae causes disease in domestic swine, turkeys, ducks, and sheep. The most important impact is in swine, where it causes erysipelas. People obtain E rhusiopathiae infection by direct inoculation from animals or animal products. Persons at greatest risk are fishermen, fish handlers, abattoir workers, butchers, and others who have contact with animal products. Additional clinical forms of infection, less commonly, it can cause septicemia; this scenario is often associated with endocarditis.

Laboratory Dx
Gram positive rods (though Gram stain has low sensitivity for this microbe). It is non-motile, catalase-negative, capnophilic, and non-spore-forming. It can also produce H2S gas, which is a unique characteristic for a gram positive bacillus.

Treatment
It is highly susceptible to penicillin G, the drug of choice for severe infections. The organism is intrinsically resistant to vancomycin.

Gardnerella vaginalis

 Gardnerella is a genus of gram variable-staining facultative bacteria of which G. vaginalis is the only species.
because the cell wall is so thin it can appear either Grampositive or Gram-negative under the microscope.

Previously classified as Haemophilus vaginalis and afterwards as Corynebacterium vaginalis. Gardnerella vaginalis grows as small, circular, gray colonies on chocolate agar. A selective medium for G. vaginalis is colistin-oxolinic acid blood agar.

Virulence and Lab Dx

G. vaginalis produces a pore-forming toxin, vaginolysin, which affects only human cells. Protease and sialidase enzyme activities frequently accompany G. vaginalis. It is associated microscopically with clue cells
bacteria adhering to the surface of squamous epithelial cells can be observed under the microscope.

Clinical significance
Gardnerella vaginalis can cause bacterial vaginosis in some women as a result of a disruption in the normal vaginal microflora. Symptoms include vaginal discharge, vaginal irritation, and a "fish like" odor. The resident anaerobic Lactobacillus population in the vagina are responsible for the acidic environt. Typically isolated in genital cultures. Although G. vaginalis is a major species present in bacterial vaginosis, it can also be isolated from women without any signs or symptoms of infection.

Treatment One method of antibiotic treatment is metronidazole Clindamycine is an alternative. Control ??