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Multiple Choice
A sputum smear can often correctly diagnose pneumococcal pneumonia on its own. What characteristic would a technician look for in the sputum to diagnose pneumococcal pneumonia?
A
Blood in the sputum.
B
Small tubercles with cheese-like interior.
C
Chains of rod-shaped bacteria.
D
Ovoid bacteria that often occur in chains of 2 cocci.
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Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that pneumococcal pneumonia is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, which has distinct microscopic characteristics.
Recall that Streptococcus pneumoniae is a Gram-positive bacterium that appears as ovoid (egg-shaped) cocci, often arranged in pairs (diplococci) or short chains.
Recognize that when examining a sputum smear under a microscope, the technician looks for these ovoid-shaped cocci arranged in pairs or chains to identify pneumococcal pneumonia.
Differentiate this from other possible findings: blood in sputum indicates bleeding but is not diagnostic of pneumococcal pneumonia; small tubercles with cheese-like interiors are characteristic of tuberculosis; chains of rod-shaped bacteria suggest other bacterial types, not pneumococcus.
Conclude that the key diagnostic feature in the sputum smear for pneumococcal pneumonia is the presence of ovoid bacteria occurring in pairs or short chains.