A 78-year-old man presents with a high fever, cough producing a blood-tinged sputum, and difficulty breathing. Sputum shows an organism consistent with Streptococcus pneumoniae. What is the most important virulence factor?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Gram-positive organism Streptococcus pneumoniae contains no endotoxin. It is not phagocytosed in the immunologically naive, eliminating choice B. It is the capsule that is considered the most important virulence factor.

A 78-Year-Old Man Presents with a High Fever, Cough Producing