A 3-year-old patient presents to the ER after a sudden onset of high fever and chills, a productive cough, and shortness of breath. The parents indicate that the child had been healthy up until that morning. An initial assessment of the child shows an elevated temperature (103oF), rapid pulse rate (140 bpm), and low oxygen saturation level (82%). Supplemental oxygen and acetaminophen are administered immediately, and specimens are obtained from the patient for microbial analysis.
-The specimens are Gram-stained and analyzed microscopically. The laboratory technician observes spherical purple cells arranged in short chains. Based upon this evidence,which of the following microbes is potentially the pathogen affecting the patient?

Question

A 3-year-old patient presents to the ER after a sudden onset of high fever and chills, a productive cough, and shortness of breath. The parents indicate that the child had been healthy up until that morning. An initial assessment of the child shows an elevated temperature (103oF), rapid pulse rate (140 bpm), and low oxygen saturation level (82%). Supplemental oxygen and acetaminophen are administered immediately, and specimens are obtained from the patient for microbial analysis.
-The specimens are Gram-stained and analyzed microscopically. The laboratory technician observes spherical purple cells arranged in short chains. Based upon this evidence,which of the following microbes is potentially the pathogen affecting the patient?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The observation of spherical purple cells arranged in short chains on a Gram stain is consistent with Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is a common cause of pneumonia in children. Bacillus cereus is a spore-forming bacterium commonly associated with food poisoning. Vibrio cholerae is a curved, gram-negative bacterium that causes cholera. Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive bacterium that can cause a range of infections, but is less commonly associated with pneumonia in children.

A 3-Year-Old Patient Presents to the ER After a Sudden