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A patient with a deep tissue infection had a wound culture revealing Gram-positive cocci in clusters. The bacteria were catalase-positive and coagulase-negative. What is the most likely causative agent?
- A. Staphylococcus epidermidis
- B. Staphylococcus aureus
- C. Streptococcus pyogenes
- D. Enterococcus faecalis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Staphylococcus epidermidis. The presence of Gram-positive cocci in clusters that are catalase-positive and coagulase-negative points towards coagulase-negative staphylococci like Staphylococcus epidermidis. Staphylococcus aureus is catalase-positive and coagulase-positive. Streptococcus pyogenes is catalase-negative. Enterococcus faecalis is catalase-negative and not typically seen in clusters. Therefore, the most likely causative agent in this scenario is Staphylococcus epidermidis.
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Which of the following bacteria is a common cause of pneumonia?
- A. Streptococcus pneumoniae
- B. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- C. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: All of the above.
- Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia.
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis can cause pulmonary tuberculosis, which can present as pneumonia-like symptoms.
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals.
Therefore, all three bacteria can cause pneumonia, making option D the correct choice. Options A, B, and C are incorrect because they each represent a bacterium that can cause pneumonia, so only selecting one of them would not encompass all common causes of pneumonia.
Which of the following diseases is transmitted by the fecal–oral route?
- A. Ehrlichiosis
- B. Peptic ulcer
- C. Lyme disease
- D. Tularemia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Peptic ulcer. Peptic ulcers are commonly caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which can be transmitted through the fecal-oral route. This means that the bacteria from infected feces can be ingested through contaminated food or water, leading to the development of peptic ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract.
Incorrect choices:
A: Ehrlichiosis - Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease transmitted through the bite of an infected tick, not through the fecal-oral route.
C: Lyme disease - Lyme disease is also transmitted through the bite of an infected tick, specifically the black-legged tick.
D: Tularemia - Tularemia is a bacterial disease typically transmitted through insect bites, handling of infected animals, or ingestion of contaminated water, not through the fecal-oral route.
A patient has a necrotizing phlegmon of his lower extremity. A doctor suspects a gas gangrene. Microscopy reveals grampositive bacilli. In order to confirm the diagnosis further bacteriological tests should include inoculation of the material into the following nutrient medium:
- A. Kitt-Tarozzi medium
- B. Endo agar
- C. Meat-peptone agar
- D. Levine agar
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Kitt-Tarozzi medium. This medium is specifically designed to culture Clostridium species, the causative agents of gas gangrene. Clostridium species are gram-positive bacilli that produce gas during their metabolism. Inoculating the material into Kitt-Tarozzi medium allows for the selective growth of Clostridium species, aiding in the confirmation of a gas gangrene diagnosis.
Other choices are incorrect:
B: Endo agar is used for the isolation of gram-negative enteric bacteria.
C: Meat-peptone agar is a general-purpose medium and not specific for Clostridium species.
D: Levine agar is used for the isolation of Salmonella and Shigella species, not Clostridium.
Which bacteria produce exotoxins that can cause severe gastrointestinal illness?
- A. Clostridium botulinum
- B. Vibrio cholerae
- C. Escherichia coli
- D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, All of the above. Clostridium botulinum produces botulinum toxin causing botulism, Vibrio cholerae produces cholera toxin leading to severe diarrhea, and certain strains of Escherichia coli produce toxins causing gastrointestinal illness. Each bacterium has specific exotoxins that can result in severe gastrointestinal symptoms. Therefore, all three choices are correct in producing exotoxins that can cause severe gastrointestinal illness.
Which bacteria produce the diphtheria toxin?
- A. Corynebacterium diphtheriae
- B. Bacillus anthracis
- C. Clostridium tetani
- D. Listeria monocytogenes
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Corynebacterium diphtheriae. This bacterium produces the diphtheria toxin, which is responsible for causing diphtheria. The other choices, B, C, and D, are incorrect because Bacillus anthracis produces anthrax toxins, Clostridium tetani produces tetanus toxin, and Listeria monocytogenes does not produce the diphtheria toxin. Understanding the specific bacteria-toxin associations is crucial in correctly identifying the pathogen responsible for a particular disease.