ow blood pressure—a life-threatening condition known as septic shock. Several classes of antibiotics have been designed to target gram-negative bacteria, including aminopenicillins, ureidopenicillins, cephalosporins, beta-lactam-betalactamase inhibitor combinations e.
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria? Do these terms confuse you? Picture a bulletproof vest or a thin chain mail shirt worn by ancient soldiers. If you can do this, you can understand the natural health implications of Gram-negative bacteria. By comparison, have you ever seen a thick wooden fence surrounding a yard or a thick dry walled partition inside a house? If so, then you can understand the natural health implications of Gram-positive bacteria. The key to understanding these differences is in the protective membrane, or outer covering, surrounding these bacterial organisms.
Medical Terminology: Gram-Positive vs. Gram-Negative Bacteria
Gram-positive bacteria are bacteria with thick cell walls. In a Gram stain test , these organisms yield a positive result. Though both groups of bacteria can cause disease, they require different treatments. If you have a bacterial infection, the Gram stain will determine what kind of medication you need. Read on to learn about gram-positive bacteria and their associated diseases, along with typical treatments.
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Prokaryotes are identified as gram-positive if they have a multiple layer matrix of peptidoglycan forming the cell wall. Crystal violet, the primary stain of the Gram stain procedure, is readily retained and stabilized within this matrix, causing gram-positive prokaryotes to appear purple under a brightfield microscope after Gram staining. For many years, the retention of Gram stain was one of the main criteria used to classify prokaryotes, even though some prokaryotes did not readily stain with either the primary or secondary stains used in the Gram stain procedure. Microbiologists currently recognize two distinct groups of gram-positive, or weakly staining gram-positive, prokaryotes. The name Actinobacteria comes from the Greek words for rays and small rod , but Actinobacteria are very diverse.