A three-year-old patient is admitted to the ER after a sudden onset of high feve

Question

A three-year-old patient is admitted to the ER after a sudden onset of high fever and chills, a productive cough, and shortness of breath. The parents indicate that the child had been healthy up until a few hours ago. An initial work-up of the child shows an elevated temperature (103 degree F), a rapid pulse rate (140 bpm), and a low oxygen saturation level (82%). Supplemental oxygen and acetaminophen are administered immediately, and specimens are obtained from the patient for microbial analysis. The specimens are Gram stained and analyzed microscopically. The laboratory technician observes spherical purple-colored cells arranged in short chains. Based upon this evidence, which of the following microbes is most likely the pathogen affecting patient? Further microscopic analysis of negatively stained specimens reveals a clearing around each of the spherical cells against a dark background. This clearing indicates that the pathogen possesses which structure/s?

Explanation / Answer

Answer:

9. Streptococcus pneumoniae

Symptoms of pneumococcal disease depend on the part of the body that is infected. They can include fever, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, stiff neck, confusion and disorientation, sensitivity to light, joint pain, chills, ear pain, sleeplessness, and irritability.

10. Capsule

Capsules are associated with virulence in several microorganisms, including Streptococcus pneumoniae because capsules resist phagocytosis thus evading the host immune system

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