Gram-positive Infections: Overview and Treatment

Gram-positive infections are bacterial infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, characterized by a thick peptidoglycan cell wall layer.
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Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Gram-positive Infections FAQ


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What is a Gram positive bacteria?

Gram-positive bacteria may be cocci or bacilli. (See figure How Bacteria Shape Up .) Some Gram-positive bacteria cause disease. Others normally occupy a particular site in the body, such as the skin. These bacteria, called resident flora , do not usually cause disease. Gram-positive bacilli cause certain infections, including the following:

What percentage of bloodstream infections are Gram positive?

The SCOPE project (Surveillance and Control of Pathogens of Epidemiologic Importance) found that in those with an underlying malignancy, gram-positive organisms accounted for 62 percent of all bloodstream infections in 1995 and 76 percent in 2000 while gram-negative organisms accounted for 22 percent in 1995 and 14 percent in 2000.

What does Gram positive mean in a blood test?

The bacteria is called gram-positive due to the positive result. Gram-negative bacteria stain pink-red. Their peptidoglycan layer is thinner, so it doesn’t retain the blue color. The test result is negative. In a medical setting, a doctor can send a sample of your blood, urine, or tissue to a lab for Gram stain testing.

Are Gram positive organisms pathogenic?

In the classical sense, six gram-positive genera are typically pathogenic in humans. Two of these, Streptococcus and Staphylococcus, are cocci (sphere-shaped). The remaining organisms are bacilli (rod-shaped) and can be subdivided based on their ability to form spores.

Gram-positive Infections References

If you want to know more about Gram-positive Infections, consider exploring links below:

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