Making a Claude artifact: Capnocytophaga

I made a Claude artifact to summarise one of the interesting bacteria – “Capnocytophaga”

I provided Claude with a premade summary of Capnocytophaga (It is RAG based approach) and asked:

Prompt:
You are an examinee preparing for the FRCPath Microbiology and ABMM exam. Read this document, highlight important points and make a summary. A summary should be in the form of patient’s journey – Presentation (clinical, epidemiological, risk factors) >> Observation >> Empirical treatment >> Investigation (Radiology, blood sciences and microbiology) >> Laboratory processing of specimens >>Sensitivity >> Results interpretation >> Management >>Follow up >>Infection control >> Public health & Contact management. If anything is not relevant, say “not relevant”.

Once Claude made the summary, I gave a simple prompt –

Prompt: make an HTML artefact.

Claude made this version – https://claude.ai/public/artifacts/c2f6afa6-6c1e-4bbd-8eac-3be3dd4345ab

I noticed that if you try to print it as a PDF, the colour scheme does not show up on the PDF.

Prompt: colours are not coming out when I try to make a PDF.

Claude: I’ve updated the HTML to be much more PDF-friendly! The key changes include…

The result – https://claude.ai/public/artifacts/419df960-d6fa-40c2-b15a-e73f3dc7815b

A black and white version!

Prompt: Why did the print-friendly version become black and white?

Claude: You’re right – I misunderstood your request! When you said colors weren’t coming out in PDF, you wanted me to fix them so they WOULD print in color, not remove them entirely. Let me update it with solid, PDF-friendly colors that will actually show up when you convert to PDF.

Final output:

Capnocytophaga Species – Patient Journey Summary

1. PRESENTATION

Clinical Features

SEPSIS (most common) – with or without CNS involvement
CNS infections: Meningitis, subdural empyema, brain abscess
Respiratory: Pneumonia, empyema, lung abscess
Ocular: Keratitis, endophthalmitis, orbital cellulitis
Pregnancy-related: Chorioamnionitis, premature labor, neonatal sepsis
Other: Endocarditis, bone/joint infections, soft tissue infections

                        ENDOGENOUS (Human Oral Species)
                        Patients: Children/adults with blood dyscrasias and neutropenia
Source: Human oral cavity (normal flora)
Entry: Through damaged gums/gingival pockets
Mortality: <3% with treatment

                    

                        ZOONOTIC (Animal-Associated)
                        Patients: Primarily males >50 years
Source: Dog/cat bites, scratches, close contact
Entry: Penetrating trauma or licking
Mortality: 13-33%

                    

Risk Factors

HIGHEST RISK GROUPS:

ASPLENIA/FUNCTIONAL ASPLENIA (highest risk for severe disease)
ALCOHOL ABUSE (20-38% of cases)
IMMUNOSUPPRESSION (especially neutropenia)
Hematologic malignancies
Post-chemotherapy/HSCT patients

OCCUPATIONAL RISKS: Dog owners, breeders, veterinarians, kennel workers, mail carriers, hunters

Remember the two distinct patterns: neutropenic patients (endogenous) vs dog bite patients (zoonotic)

2. OBSERVATION

Clinical Signs

C. canimorsus sepsis: Distinctive rash in 10-40% of cases
- Macular/maculopapular eruption
- Purpura fulminans with petechial lesions
- Symmetrical gangrene
Meningitis: Headache, fever, neck stiffness, altered mental status (96% have ≥2 symptoms)
Nonspecific: Fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, confusion

The characteristic rash in C. canimorsus sepsis is a key diagnostic clue

3. EMPIRICAL TREATMENT

BROAD-SPECTRUM ANTIBIOTICS based on presenting syndrome
Consider DOG BITE HISTORY or NEUTROPENIC PATIENT WITH ORAL MUCOSITIS
HIGH SUSPICION in asplenic patients with animal contact
EXTENDED INCUBATION of blood cultures (up to 10 days) if suspected

4. INVESTIGATION

Blood Sciences

Inflammatory markers: ↑CRP, ↑ESR, ↑WBC, ↑procalcitonin
Complications: DIC markers, organ dysfunction evidence

Radiology

CNS imaging if neurological symptoms
Chest imaging for respiratory symptoms
Echocardiography if endocarditis suspected

Microbiology Specimens

BLOOD CULTURES (most important)
CSF (if CNS involvement)
Respiratory specimens (sputum, BAL)
Wound swabs (bite sites)
Other sterile sites as clinically indicated

5. LABORATORY PROCESSING

Key Processing Requirements

⚠️ CRITICAL LABORATORY REQUIREMENTS ⚠️

EXTENDED INCUBATION: 3-10 days (some up to 25 days reported)
SPECIAL ATMOSPHERE: 5-10% CO₂, microaerobic conditions
ENRICHED MEDIA: Blood agar, chocolate agar (NOT MacConkey)
ALTERNATIVE MEDIA: Heart infusion with 5% blood, selective media

Important Technical Points

SLOW GROWING AND FASTIDIOUS
May be sensitive to anticoagulants in blood culture bottles
Colonies: 2-4mm, convex, smooth, nonhemolytic
GLIDING MOTILITY visible on agar plates

💡 EXAM TIP: Always inform the lab if Capnocytophaga is suspected – they need to use extended incubation

6. SENSITIVITY & IDENTIFICATION

Conventional Methods

GRAM STAIN: Slender gram-negative rods with TAPERED ENDS
Biochemical tests: Catalase, oxidase, arginine dihydrolase (slow but reliable)

Molecular (Preferred)

16S rRNA GENE SEQUENCING (gold standard)
MALDI-TOF MS (predominant method)
Whole genome sequencing
PCR with species-specific primers

Antimicrobial Susceptibility

⚠️ NO STANDARDIZED GUIDELINES EXIST ⚠️

Various methods used: Disk diffusion, E-test, broth microdilution
Different breakpoints applied: HACEK or anaerobic breakpoints
Slow growth complicates testing

💡 EXAM TIP: TAPERED ENDS on Gram stain are pathognomonic – this is a key exam point

7. RESULTS INTERPRETATION

Diagnostic Criteria

Compatible history: Dog bite, animal contact, neutropenic patient
Gram stain: Tapered gram-negative bacilli (sometimes within PMNs)
Blood/peripheral smear: May show organisms
16S rRNA sequencing: 99-100% sequence similarity

CHARACTERISTIC	HUMAN ORAL SPECIES	ZOONOTIC SPECIES
Catalase	NEGATIVE	POSITIVE
Oxidase	NEGATIVE	POSITIVE
β-lactamase production	COMMON	RARE
Clinical context	Neutropenia, oral mucositis	Animal bite/contact

💡 EXAM TIP: Remember the biochemical differences – they’re frequently tested

8. MANAGEMENT

Antimicrobial Therapy

SERIOUS INFECTIONS (IV therapy):

FIRST CHOICE: Carbapenems OR penicillin/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations
ALTERNATIVES: 3rd/4th generation cephalosporins, clindamycin, fluoroquinolones

ORAL THERAPY (mild infections):

Clindamycin, doxycycline, or fluoroquinolones

                        SPECIES-SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS:
                        Human oral species: Often β-lactamase positive → AVOID penicillin/amoxicillin alone
C. canimorsus: Usually β-lactamase negative → penicillin effective

                    

💡 EXAM TIP: β-lactamase production pattern is OPPOSITE between oral and zoonotic species

9. FOLLOW UP

Clinical response monitoring
Complications assessment: DIC, organ failure, neurological sequelae
Duration: Based on syndrome (endocarditis requires prolonged therapy)

10. INFECTION CONTROL

NOT APPLICABLE
Not transmitted person-to-person

11. PUBLIC HEALTH

NOT A NOTIFIABLE CONDITION
No specific public health measures required

12. CONTACT MANAGEMENT

NOT RELEVANT
No human-to-human transmission

🎯 KEY EXAM POINTS FOR RECALL

TAPERED GRAM-NEGATIVE RODS are pathognomonic
TWO DISTINCT EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PATTERNS (endogenous vs zoonotic)
ASPLENIA IS MAJOR RISK FACTOR for severe C. canimorsus infection
EXTENDED INCUBATION REQUIRED for culture (3-10 days)
MALDI-TOF MS and 16S SEQUENCING are preferred identification methods
β-LACTAMASE PRODUCTION differs between oral and zoonotic species
MORTALITY RATES: <3% (oral species) vs 13-33% (zoonotic)

Making a Claude artifact: Capnocytophaga

🦠 CAPNOCYTOPHAGA SPECIES