Chapter 20, Problem 2CT

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The reason why Gram positive bacteremia is more responsive to antimicrobial drug treatment than the Gram negative bacteremia.

Introduction:

Bacteremia occurs when bacteria are present in blood. Gram positive bacteria respond to the treatment with antimicrobial drugs more often than Gram negative bacteria does mainly due to the differences in their cell wall structure. In Gram positive bacteria, the outer membrane is absent and the cell wall is $100-120$ Å with two layers containing low amount of lipid whereas, in Gram negative bacteria, outer membrane is present and the cell wall is $70-100$Å with two layers containing high amounts of lipid.

Gram positive bacteria have a multilayered peptidoglycan and a negligible lipopolysaccharide content, while Gram negative bacteria have a single and thin peptidoglycan and high lipopolysaccharide content. Also, Gram positive bacteria have low resistance to antimicrobials, dyes and dryness, and on contrary, Gram negative bacteria high resistance to antimicrobials, dyes and dryness.