A 2-year-old boy who missed several scheduled immunizations presents to the emer

Question

A 2-year-old boy who missed several scheduled immunizations presents to the emergency room with a high fever, irritability, and a stiff neck. Fluid from a spinal tap reveals 20,000 white blood cells per milliliter with 85% polymorphonuclear cells. Gram stain evaluation of the fluid reveals small pleomorphic gram-negative rods that grow on chocolate agar. If an inhibitor is designed to block its major virulence, which of the following would be the most likely major virulence factor?

a. Capsule formation b. Endotoxin assembly c. Exotoxin liberator d. Flagella synthesis e. IgA protease synthesis

Explanation / Answer

Ans-(a) Capsular formation

CSF Gram stain indicates that child is infected with meningitis infection caused by Haemophilus influenzae .Capsular polysaccharide of H. influenzae (3-beta-D-ribose-(1-1)-ribitol-5-phosphate) is a major virulence factor and target for antibodies to protect children against invasive infection.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.