A patient with dysentery had a stool sample that was cultured on Endo agar, resulting in colorless colonies. The bacteria were Gram-negative rods. What is the most likely causative agent?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Rationale: 1. Endo agar inhibits the growth of Gram-positive bacteria. 2. Colorless colonies on Endo agar indicate lactose non-fermenting bacteria. 3. Shigella dysenteriae is a lactose non-fermenting, Gram-negative rod, causing dysentery. 4. Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, and Proteus vulgaris are lactose fermenters, so they would produce pink colonies on Endo agar. Therefore, the most likely causative agent is Shigella dysenteriae.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Pertussis bacillus. The symptoms described - elevated temperature and typical cough - are indicative of whooping cough, caused by Bordetella pertussis. By inoculating mucus from the nasopharynx on agar, the doctor is trying to isolate the causative agent, which is likely to be Pertussis bacillus. Summary of other choices: B: Pfeiffer's bacillus (Haemophilus influenzae): Unlikely as symptoms do not match. C: Listeria: Unlikely as it typically causes foodborne illness, not respiratory infections. D: Klebsiella: Unlikely as it is more commonly associated with pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Neisseria meningitidis. This bacterium is a Gram-negative diplococcus, oxidase-positive, and fermentative. Neisseria meningitidis is known to cause respiratory infections and is commonly found in sputum cultures of patients with such infections. Neisseria gonorrhoeae (B) is also a Gram-negative diplococcus but is not fermentative. Moraxella catarrhalis (C) is oxidase-positive but not fermentative. Haemophilus influenzae (D) is not a diplococcus and is not fermentative. Therefore, Neisseria meningitidis is the most likely causative agent based on the given characteristics.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Aminoglycosides. Aminoglycosides are antibiotics that act by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit, disrupting protein synthesis in bacteria. This interaction affects the ribosomes directly, leading to inhibition of bacterial protein production. Penicillins (A) work by inhibiting cell wall synthesis, Sulfonamides (C) target folic acid synthesis, and Quinolones (D) inhibit DNA gyrase. These mechanisms do not directly affect the ribosomes, making them incorrect choices in this context.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because the capsule of bacteria is mainly composed of polysaccharides or polypeptides. This outer layer helps bacteria evade the host's immune system and protects them from desiccation. Peptidoglycan (choice A) is a component of the bacterial cell wall, not the capsule. Flagellin (choice C) is a protein component of the bacterial flagella, not the capsule. Choice D is incorrect as the capsule is indeed composed of polysaccharides or polypeptides.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because Borrelia burgdorferi cannot be detected with Giemsa stain. Giemsa stain is commonly used to visualize blood smears for malaria parasites but is not effective for Borrelia burgdorferi detection. A: Borrelia burgdorferi can be cultivated on blood agar - This is correct. Borrelia burgdorferi can be grown in culture on a special medium like Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly (BSK) agar. B: Borrelia burgdorferi is flexible, motile spirochete - This is correct. Borrelia burgdorferi is a spiral-shaped bacterium that moves using a corkscrew motion. C: Borrelia burgdorferi is transmitted by arthropods- ticks - This is correct. Borrelia burgdorferi is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks, particularly Ixodes

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known to produce green colonies on Endo agar due to its pyoverdin pigment. It is also a Gram-negative rod. P. aeruginosa commonly causes respiratory infections in immunocompromised patients. Escherichia coli (B) typically produces pink colonies on Endo agar and is more associated with gastrointestinal infections. Salmonella typhi (C) and Shigella dysenteriae (D) are both Enterobacteriaceae that usually do not produce green colonies on Endo agar and are more associated with gastrointestinal infections as well.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Rationale: 1. Candida is a fungus commonly isolated from clinical specimens. 2. Sabouraud agar is the most suitable medium for Candida due to its low pH and high dextrose content. 3. Low pH inhibits bacterial growth, while dextrose promotes fungal growth. 4. Zeisler media, Chocolate agar, and Muller-Hinton agar are not specific for fungal isolation. Summary: - Zeisler media is used for anaerobic bacteria. - Chocolate agar is used for fastidious organisms like Haemophilus. - Muller-Hinton agar is for antibiotic susceptibility testing, not fungal isolation.