infections
Overview of Gram Negative Bacteria
Introduction
 Overview of Bacteria are classified by how they appear under the microscope and by other features. Gram-negative bacteria are classified by the color they turn after a chemical process called Gram staining is used on them. Gram-negative bacteria stain red when this process is used. Gram-negative bacteria are enclosed in a protective capsule. This capsule helps prevent white blood cells (which fight infection) from ingesting the bacteria. Under the capsule, gram-negative bacteria have an outer membrane that protects them against certain antibiotics, such as penicillin. When disrupted, this membrane releases toxic substances called endotoxins. Endotoxins contribute to the severity of symptoms during infections with gram-negative bacteria. Gram-negative bacterial infections include the following: Brucellosis None Campylobacter Infections None Cat-Scratch Disease None Cholera None Escherichia coli Infections None Haemophilus influenzae Infections None Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Serratia Infections None Legionella Infections None Pertussis None Plague and Other Yersinia Infections None Pseudomonas Infections None Salmonella Infections None Shigellosis None Tularemia None Typhoid Fever None Gram-negative bacteria can cause many serious infections, such as Overview of Pneumonia , Gram-negative bacteria are increasingly becoming Antibiotic resistance . Bacteria may be resistant because of any of the following: They are naturally resistant to certain antibiotics. They acquire genes from bacteria that have become resistant. Their genes mutate. 