In the lab, a dense mixture of the above patient's isolate with plasma on a slide shows clumping. This test correlates with which early process in the pathogenesis of acute endocarditis in a healthy heart?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The binding of surface components to the plasma fibrinogen cross-links the staphylococci. The fibrinogen binding is probably the major reason Staphylococcus aureus can damage the normal heart. It can also bind to fibronectin, so it is also a major causative agent of bacterial endocarditis in people with congenital defects and previously damaged hearts.

In the Lab, a Dense Mixture of the Above Patient's