A cystic fibrosis patient develops a severe respiratory infection that resists treatment with standard antibiotics.A specimen from the lungs is greenish in color and contains aerobic motile Gram-negative bacilli.The patient is probably infected with
A) Bordetella pertussis.
B) Burkholderia cepacia.
C) Klebsiella pneumoniae.
D) Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
E) Serratia marcescens.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The greenish color of the lung specimen, along with the presence of aerobic, motile Gram-negative bacilli points towards Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is a common bacterial pathogen in cystic fibrosis patients. Burkholderia cepacia can also cause similar infections in cystic fibrosis patients but is usually associated with a more rapid decline in lung function. Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough, and Klebsiella pneumoniae and Serratia marcescens are less common causes of respiratory infections in cystic fibrosis patients.

A Cystic Fibrosis Patient Develops a Severe Respiratory Infection That