Bacterial Infections

Question 1

A family who recently emigrated to the US from Romania brings their 7 yo to the pediatrician with complaints of red, itchy eyes and some swelling around them. The child has had coughing with a runny nose and high fever for three days. Small lesions with white centers are seen in his oral cavity. A day after the oral lesions were observed, a maculopapular rash becan at the head and became increasingly more prominent on the child’s trunk and legs over time. What is your Dx?

Answer 1

Rubeola

Question 2

Common cause of nosocomial pneumonia and UTI. Colonies have a grape-like odor. What is the name of this bacteria’s exotoxin and its mechanism?

Answer 2

Pseudomonas

Exotoxin A -> inhibition of elongation factor 2

Question 3

Baby presents with hypotonia, has a history of eating honey. What is your Dx?

Answer 3

C. botulinum

Question 4

Immunocompromised patient presents with pleuritic chest pain and cough. He has a mild fever. BAL and subsequent mucicarmine staining reveals the following. What is the Dx?

Answer 4

Cryptococcus neoformans

Question 5

Can the purified genome of rotavirus induce viral protein synthesis? Why or why not?

Answer 5

No, rotavirus is a type of reovirus and is double-stranded (dsRNA) so it can’t directly be used as mRNA in a host cell.

Question 6

Motherfucker goes on a cruise, then comes back with pneumonia and watery shits. The offending bug causes what electrolyte abnormality?

Answer 6

Legionella causes hyponatremia.

Question 7

Name a bug that can impair both muscarinic and nicotinic neurotransmission.

Answer 7

C. botulinum

Question 8

Why is it that loose cats can get gonorrhea over, and over, and over, and over again?

Answer 8

High degree of antigenic variation (pocket watch chains on Mac)