A 16 year old Hispanic female with poor oral hygiene and severe gingivitis prese

Question

A 16 year old Hispanic female with poor oral hygiene and severe gingivitis presents with a temperature of 103.5 degrees F and hypotension. Blood culture is positve for Capnocytophaga. Which of the following best charaterizes capnocytophaga?

a. gram-negaive, pleomorphic rod that can cause endocarditis, b. gram-negative rod, fusiform-shaped, that is associated with periodontal disease but may cause sepsis, c. causitive agent of a rat bite fever, d. causitive agent of sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia, e. causitive agent of trench fever

Explanation / Answer

Ans:

A 16 year old Hispanic female with poor oral hygiene and sever gingivitis presents with a temperature of 103.5 degrees F and hypotension. Blood culture is positive for Capnocytophaga. The following best characterizes capnocytophaga: b. Gram negative rod, fusiform shaped, that is associated with periodontal disease but may cause sepsis.

Explanation:

- Capnocytophaga spp., of the family flavobacteriaceae are Gram negative bacteria that appear as long facultative anaerobic rods that are 3-6 micometer long.

- The slender fusiform bacilli are motile through glinding.

- Capnocytophaga is an occasional pathogen found in oral diseases and brain abscesses.

- Most of the capnocytophaga infections that have been reported were contiguous with the oropharynx, including periodontal diseases, opthalmic lesions etc.

- Capnocytophaga canimorsus, which can be transmitted zoonotically, may cause sepsis and other severe infections in immunocompromised patients.

- Hence, correct option is: b. Gram negative rod, fusiform shaped, that is associated with periodontal disease but may cause sepsis.   

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