Multiple Choice
Which bacterium is responsible for meningococcal meningitis?
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33. Microbial Infections - Nervous System
Bacterial Meningitis
Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements correctly represents something that Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae all have in common?
A
Prior to widespread vaccination, all three caused a significant number of cases of pneumonia in addition to meningitis.
B
All three are more likely to spread and cause meningitis in crowded conditions such as dormitories.
C
All three are Gram-negative bacteria.
D
All three may be found in the respiratory pathway of healthy individuals without causing meningitis or other diseases.
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Identify the characteristics of each bacterium mentioned: Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Understand their Gram stain properties, typical colonization sites, and diseases they cause.
Step 2: Recall that Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis are Gram-negative bacteria, while Streptococcus pneumoniae is Gram-positive. This helps eliminate the statement that all three are Gram-negative.
Step 3: Consider the epidemiology and transmission of these bacteria. While crowded conditions can facilitate the spread of Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae is less specifically associated with outbreaks in dormitories, so the statement about all three spreading in crowded conditions is not fully accurate.
Step 4: Review the clinical presentations. All three bacteria can cause meningitis and pneumonia, but the statement about causing significant pneumonia cases prior to vaccination is more specific to Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae; Neisseria meningitidis primarily causes meningitis and septicemia rather than pneumonia.
Step 5: Understand that all three bacteria can colonize the respiratory tract of healthy individuals asymptomatically. This means they may be present without causing disease, which is a key commonality and supports the correct answer.
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