A 65-year-old patient with fever and a productive cough had a sputum sample revealing Gram-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped bacteria. What is the most likely causative agent?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Klebsiella pneumoniae. This bacterium is commonly associated with pneumonia in elderly patients. Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium that frequently causes pneumonia in individuals with underlying health conditions. It is known for its ability to produce a distinctive mucoid capsule. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (B) is more commonly associated with hospital-acquired infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Escherichia coli (C) is a common cause of urinary tract infections but is less likely in this case due to the symptoms and sputum sample results. Haemophilus influenzae (D) is another common respiratory pathogen, but in this scenario, Klebsiella pneumoniae is the most likely causative agent based on the patient's age, symptoms, and the characteristics of the bacteria described in the sputum sample.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Streptococcus pneumoniae. This bacterium is the most likely causative agent for pneumonia in this case due to the presence of Gram-positive cocci in pairs with a capsule, which is a typical characteristic of S. pneumoniae. This pathogen is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia and is known for its encapsulated morphology. Staphylococcus aureus (B) is a Gram-positive cocci but does not typically present in pairs with a capsule in pneumonia cases. Klebsiella pneumoniae (C) is a Gram-negative bacterium and does not match the description provided. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (D) is a Gram-negative bacterium that is not typically associated with Gram-positive cocci in pneumonia samples.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 1. Water testing facilities typically handle low-risk microorganisms, hence requiring Biosafety Level 1. BSL 1 is suitable for working with well-characterized agents not known to consistently cause disease in healthy adults. BSL 2 is for moderate-risk agents, BSL 3 for high-risk agents, and BSL 4 for dangerous pathogens. Therefore, choices B, C, and D are incorrect for water testing facilities due to the low risk involved in handling the microorganisms found in water samples.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: biofilms. Biofilms are structured communities of microorganisms that adhere to a surface and are embedded in a matrix. This is the most appropriate term as it specifically describes the organization of various species into complex communities on a surface. Colonies (A) refer to groups of cells of the same species, not necessarily multiple species. Ecosystems (C) are broader systems involving interactions between living organisms and their environment. Plagues (D) are outbreaks of disease, not a term used to describe organized microbial communities.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Agglutination reaction. This is the most suitable serological reaction for the quick determination of the antigen of the epizootic agent causing mass rodent deaths. In agglutination reaction, antibodies cause the clumping of antigens, allowing for easy visual detection of the presence of the specific antigen. This is efficient for rapid diagnosis in cases of suspected infectious diseases like plague. A: Precipitation reaction is more suitable for identifying soluble antigens, not for quick determination of a specific antigen in this scenario. C: Reaction of passive hemagglutination is used for measuring the presence of antibodies, not antigens. D: Bordet-Gengou test is a specific test for the identification of Bordetella pertussis bacterium, not suitable for this scenario.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. Negri bodies are not associated with measles but with rabies. Step 1: Measles is a childhood infection with a rash (A). Step 2: Koplik spots are small white spots on a red base found inside the mouth and are characteristic of measles (B). Step 3: Negri bodies are eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions found in neurons infected with rabies virus, not measles (C). Step 4: Prophylaxis for measles is through the MMR vaccine, which is a live attenuated vaccine (D). Therefore, choice C is incorrect as it does not pertain to measles.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Streptococcus pneumoniae. This bacteria is known for causing pneumonia due to its ability to infect the lungs and cause inflammation leading to pneumonia symptoms. It is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (B) causes tuberculosis, not pneumonia. Escherichia coli (C) is associated with urinary tract infections and gastrointestinal infections, not pneumonia. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (D) is known to cause infections in immunocompromised individuals but is not a common cause of pneumonia.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Bacillary dysentery is caused by the bacterium Shigella, hence it is also known as shigellosis. Shigella is the primary pathogen responsible for this infectious disease, leading to severe diarrhea with blood and mucus. Salmonellosis (A) is caused by Salmonella bacteria, not Shigella. Typhoid fever (C) is caused by Salmonella typhi, not Shigella. Campylobacteriosis (D) is caused by Campylobacter bacteria, not Shigella. Therefore, the correct answer is B because Shigella is the specific bacterium associated with bacillary dysentery.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Smooth S colonies. Bacteria with long O-specific chains are known as smooth strains, and when cultured on solid growth media, they form smooth colonies due to the presence of the O antigen. This gives them a glossy appearance. Rough R colonies (Choice B) lack O antigen and appear rough. Mucoid -M colonies (Choice C) are associated with capsules, not O-specific chains. H colonies (Choice D) are not relevant to the O-specific chains. Smooth S colonies are the characteristic phenotype of bacteria with long O-specific chains when cultured on solid media.