GRAMD4
Gram-Negative Bacteria: A Comprehensive Guide
Description
Gram-negative bacteria are a type of bacteria that do not retain Gram stain, a differential staining technique used to distinguish between two large groups of bacteria: Gram-positive and Gram-negative. They have a unique cell wall structure that includes an outer membrane, making them more resistant to antibiotics than Gram-positive bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria are ubiquitous, found in soil, water, and on the skin and mucous membranes of humans and animals.
Associated Diseases
Gram-negative bacteria can cause a wide range of infections, including:
- Pneumonia
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Sepsis (bloodstream infection)
- Meningitis (brain and spinal cord infection)
- Gastroenteritis (food poisoning)
- Cholera
- Typhoid fever
- Gonorrhea
- Pseudomonas infections (lung infections, wound infections)
- Acinetobacter infections (hospital-acquired infections)
Did you Know ?
Gram-negative bacteria are responsible for approximately 50% of hospital-acquired infections in the United States.
