Medical MCQ - A 64-year-old man, who is a chronic alcoholic, presents with fever, chills and increasing shoness of breath. The patient appears in acute respiratory distress and complains of pleuritic chest pain. Physical examination shows crackles and decreased breath sounds over both lung fields. The patient exhibits tachypnea, with flaring of the nares. The sputum is thick, mucoidy and blood-tinged. Which of the following pathogens is the most common cause of this patient's pulmonary infection?

A 64-year-old man, who is a chronic alcoholic, presents with fever, chills and increasing shoness of breath. The patient appears in acute respiratory distress and complains of pleuritic chest pain. Physical examination shows crackles and decreased breath sounds over both lung fields. The patient exhibits tachypnea, with flaring of the nares. The sputum is thick, mucoidy and blood-tinged. Which of the following pathogens is the most common cause of this patient’s pulmonary infection?

Legionella pneumophila

Klebsiella pneumoniae

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Question Category:

Pathology

Correct Answer:

Klebsiella pneumoniae

Description:

Klebsiella pneumoniae is the most frequent cause of gram-negative bacterial pneumonia. It commonly afflicts debilitated and malnourished people, paicularly chronic alcoholics. Thick, mucoid (often blood-tinged) sputum is characteristic because the organism produces an abundant viscid capsular polysac-charide, which the patient may have difficulty expectorating.

Previous MCQ

Next MCQ

Get More

Subject Mock Tests

Try practicing mock tests with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects.

Attempt a mock test now

Mock Exam

Attempt an exam of 100 questions randomly chosen from all subjects.

Coming Soon