Master Yersinia Enterocolitica with Picmonic for Medicine

Yersinia is a Gram-negative bacteria that does not stain when crystal violet dye is applied, due to much thinner peptidoglycan layer.

This bacteria is rod shaped.

Yersinia enterocolitica is characterized as a lactose nonfermenter because it cannot utilize lactose sugars in culture. The bacteria grow as white or colorless colonies on MacConkey agar, which is used to test for lactose fermenting capability.

Yersinia enterocolitica does not produce H2S (hydrogen sulfide), which allows it to be differentiated from other oxidase negative Gram-negative bacteria, like Salmonella and Proteus.

The oxidase test is used to determine if a bacterium produces certain cytochrome C oxidases in order to use oxygen for energy production.Yersinia enterocolitica is oxidase- negative, meaning it does not use the electron transport chain to make energy.

Children at daycare centers are at higher risk for infection due to fecal-oral contact.

This bacteria is most frequently linked to ingestion of pork, raw milk and contaminated water.

This bacteria is most frequently linked to ingestion of pork, raw milk, and contaminated water.

Yersinia enterocolitica can be linked to contact with infected pet feces.

Individuals infected with Y. enterocolitica generally present with abdominal pain, but fever and bloody diarrhea may also occur.

Mesenteric adenitis is inflammation of the mesenteric lymph nodes.

The organisms multiply in mesenteric lymph nodes and can lead to granulomatous microabscesses in the lymph tissue. The granulomatous response can create diagnostic confusion with Crohn's disease.

The involvement of the regional lymphatics can mimic acute appendicitis in teenagers and young adults.

Reactive Arthritis (formerly Reiter's syndrome) is an autoimmune condition that typically develops after an infectious process.The clinical pattern consists of inflammation of the joints, inflammation of the eyes and urethritis. Yersinia enterocolitica has been linked to reactive arthritis.