Atypical pneumonias

Question 1

what is the hallmark of atypical pneumonia?

Answer 1

milder symptoms

slower onset

Question 2

are atypical pneumonia agents fastidious?

Answer 2

yes, all are fastidious

Question 3

do atypical pneumo agents have peptidoglycan cell walls?

Answer 3

no, all lack peptidoglycan

Question 4

which atypical pneumo agents lack a cell wall?

Answer 4

Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Ureaplasma urealyticum
Ureaplasma parvum

Question 5

which atypical pneumo agent posseses a gram negative cell wall but lacks peptidoglycan?

Answer 5

Chlamydia spp.

Question 6

why is the gram stain not useful for atypical pneumo agents?

Answer 6

small size of agents

Question 7

what is the main pathogenesis of atypical pneumo agents?

Answer 7

ciliostasis

destruction of ciliated epithelial cells

Question 8

what type of pneumonia is caused by atypical pneumo agents?

Answer 8

interstitial pneumo

Question 9

what aspect of atypical pneumo agents causes the insidious onset?

Answer 9

slow growth rate of agents

Question 10

what aspect of atypical pneumo agents causes the slow spread and long incubation period?

Answer 10

slow growth rate of agents

Question 11

what aspect of atypical pneumo agents causes the long convalescence period?

Answer 11

slow growth rate of agents

Question 12

which atypical pneumo agents are extracellular pathogens?

Answer 12

Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Ureaplasma urealyticum
Ureaplasma parvum

Question 13

which atypical pneumo agents are obligate intracellular pathogens?

Answer 13

Chlamydiae pneumoniae

Chlamydiae trachomatis

Question 14

which atypical pneumo agent possesses a unique growth cycle including elementary bodies and reticulate bodies?

Answer 14

Chlamydiae spp.

Question 15

which atypical pneumo agent produces an ADP-ribosylating and vacuolating cytotoxin (community-acquired RDS toxin)?

Answer 15

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Question 16

which atypical pneumo agents are transmitted person-to-person via an aerosol route (inhalation of respiratory droplets)?

Answer 16

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Chlamydia pneumoniae

Question 17

which atypical pneumo agents are closely associated with vertical transmission (partruition, mother to child)
(mother is often asymptomatic)

Answer 17

Ureaplasma urealyticum
U. parvum
Chlamydia trachomatis

Question 18

can any atypical agents be visible by gram staining?

Answer 18

no, none

Question 19

can any atypical pneumo agents be cultured on blood agar?

Answer 19

no, none

-all are fastidious

Question 20

what type of infiltrate predominates on sputum cultured from an atypical pneumo pt?

Answer 20

monocytic cell infiltrate predominates

Question 21

what is the length of onset for manifestations of M. pneumo and C. pneumo?

Answer 21

days to 1 week

Question 22

what manifestations are seen with M. pneumo and C. pneumo?

Answer 22

flu like minus coryza

Question 23

M. pneumo and C. pneumo clinical buzz words

Answer 23

erythematous pharyngitis with no exudate and no cervical lymphadenopathy

Question 24

what differentiates M. pneumo infx from C. pneumo infx, clinically speaking?

Answer 24

skin rash for M. pneumo only

Question 25

what indicates a viral etiology in atypical pneumo?

Answer 25

lymphocytosis

Question 26

are atypical pneumos treatable by penicillins or cephalosporins?

Answer 26

no

Question 27

what atypical pneumo agent is responsible for encephalitis?

Answer 27

M. pneumo

Question 28

what test is used to identify M. pneumo infx?

Answer 28

EIA test for serum mycoplasma specific IgM or cold agglutins

Question 29

what test is used to identify C. pneumo infx?

Answer 29

MIF test for serum C. pneumo specific antibodies
DFA
EIA

Question 30

what differentiates virally caused atypical pneumo from bacterially caused atypical pneumo, from a CXR?

Answer 30

consolidation, diffuse interstitial infiltrates, and large pleural effusions are rarely seen with a viral etiology