Which bacteria is responsible for causing syphilis?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step 1: Treponema pallidum is a spirochete bacterium known to cause syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection. Step 2: Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes gonorrhea, not syphilis. Step 3: Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for causing chlamydia, not syphilis. Step 4: Escherichia coli is commonly found in the gut and can cause gastrointestinal infections, not syphilis. Summary: Treponema pallidum is the correct answer as it is the specific bacterium associated with syphilis, while the other choices are responsible for different infections.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Escherichia coli. E.coli is the most common urinary tract pathogen due to its ability to adhere to and infect the urinary tract epithelium. It accounts for approximately 80-85% of urinary tract infections. It possesses specific virulence factors that enable it to colonize and cause infection in the urinary tract. Proteus mirabilis (A) is known for causing complicated UTIs, but it is less common than E.coli. Staphylococcus aureus (B) is not a common urinary pathogen. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (D) is more commonly associated with hospital-acquired infections, rather than community-acquired urinary tract infections.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: To perform serodiagnostics of tuberculosis. Rationale: The negative reaction to the Mantoux test indicates absence of TB infection. Performing serodiagnostics will further confirm the absence of active infection. This is important to rule out TB before considering vaccination or isolation measures. Summary: A: BCG vaccination is not necessary as the boy shows a negative reaction to the Mantoux test. B: Repeating the test in a month is unnecessary as the initial test already showed a negative reaction. D: Isolating the boy is not warranted as there is no evidence of active TB infection.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step 1: Treponema pallidum is a spirochete bacterium known to cause syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection. Step 2: Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes gonorrhea, not syphilis. Step 3: Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for causing chlamydia, not syphilis. Step 4: Escherichia coli is commonly found in the gut and can cause gastrointestinal infections, not syphilis. Summary: Treponema pallidum is the correct answer as it is the specific bacterium associated with syphilis, while the other choices are responsible for different infections.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: slime mold. Plasmodium is a type of slime mold, specifically a parasitic protist that causes malaria in humans. Slime molds are a group of organisms that share characteristics of both fungi and protozoa. Plasmodium does not belong to the other categories listed: A) protozoan refers to a broad category of single-celled eukaryotic organisms, C) spirochetes are a type of bacteria, and D) helminths are parasitic worms. Therefore, the correct classification for Plasmodium is slime mold.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: iatrogenic infections. Iatrogenic infections are those caused by medical interventions like catheter use. Catheters can introduce pathogens into the body, leading to infections. Local infections (B) refer to infections confined to a specific area, not necessarily caused by catheters. Exogenous infections (C) come from an external source, not specifically related to medical interventions. Endogenous infections (D) arise from the body's own flora and are not directly related to catheter use.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Neisseria gonorrhoeae. This bacterium is the likely causative agent of the patient's symptoms based on the presentation of dysuria and purulent discharge, which are classic signs of gonorrhea. Gram-negative diplococci are characteristic of Neisseria species. Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a sexually transmitted pathogen commonly associated with urethral infections. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis are not typically associated with urethral discharge and are not Gram-negative diplococci.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Escherichia coli. E. coli is a Gram-negative rod that typically has a greenish hue on MacConkey agar due to its ability to ferment lactose, producing acid that changes the pH indicator to green. E. coli is a common cause of diarrhea, particularly in cases of traveler's diarrhea. Salmonella (B), Shigella (C), and Klebsiella (D) are also Gram-negative rods but do not typically show a greenish hue on MacConkey agar and are less commonly associated with causing diarrhea compared to E. coli.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Clostridium botulinum. This bacterium produces the neurotoxin responsible for botulism. Clostridium perfringens causes gas gangrene, not botulism. Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica are not associated with botulism. Clostridium botulinum is the only bacterium known to produce the toxin causing botulism.