Dr. Gino Corsini Acuña
Science Communication Center
URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS
The microbial colonization and spread in the urogenital epithelium cause urinary tract infections (UTI). It is usually a bacterial infection and affects the
bladder causing cystitis.
Most of the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections are Enterobacter species, particularly Escherichia coli and Proteus vulgaris. However, nosocomial
diseases may be caused by other Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacteria.
A UTI can be easily treated with the proper antibiotic. However, in severe
cases, the infection may spread to the kidneys and cause pyelonephritis.
OTHER IMPORTANT DISEASES
BOTULISM
Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium tetani
bacteria are naturally found in soil and sometimes cause diseases in animals. They can grow
and proliferate when food is improperly canned.
The disease caused by this microorganism is
produced by a toxin that binds to the presynaptic neuron membrane and inhibits the release of acetylcholine. The transmission of the
nerve impulse to the muscle is propagated by
acetylcholine. For this reason, the toxin causes
flaccid paralysis, meaning that the muscles are
unable to contract. The mortality rate of this
disease is close to one hundred percent, depending on the amount of the toxin ingested, and
it can be fatal mostly because of respiratory
failure as a result of muscular paralysis.
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