An 18-year-old male in his first year of college presents to the emergency room with a fever and a severe headache. He reports having unprotected sex with several partners over the past few weeks. Upon examination, the male demonstrates nuchal rigidity and photophobia. His past medical history is notable for a lack of vaccinations beginning from infancy due to his parents' belief that vaccinations may cause autism. The bacteria causing these symptoms would most likely demonstrate which of the following?
ANegative catalase test
BGram-negative bacteria
CUrease positive
DPositive quellung reaction
ELactose fermentation
A 37-year-old woman with a history of anorectal abscesses complains of pain in the perianal region. Physical examination reveals mild swelling, tenderness, and erythema of the perianal skin. She is prescribed oral ampicillin and asked to return for follow-up. Two days later, the patient presents with a high-grade fever, syncope, and increased swelling. Which of the following would be the most common mechanism of resistance leading to the failure of antibiotic therapy in this patient?
AIntrinsic absence of a target site for the drug
BUse of an altered metabolic pathway
CProduction of beta-lactamase enzyme
DAltered structural target for the drug
EDrug efflux pump
An investigator is studying the chemical structure of antibiotics and its effect on bacterial growth. He has synthesized a simple beta-lactam antibiotic and has added a bulky side chain to the molecule that inhibits the access of bacterial enzymes to the beta-lactam ring. The synthesized drug will most likely be appropriate for the treatment of which of the following conditions?
AFolliculitis
BNocardiosis
CAtypical pneumonia
DErythema migrans
EOtitis media
+ 7 more in the PDF
Browse all chapters