EMQ Examples - Bugs and Others

Question 1

A 19-year-old man returns from holiday in Spain. Four weeks later, he develops a hot, swollen, painful red knee joint, with an effusion. The knee is tapped, and 20 ml of cloudy yellow fluid is withdrawn. Microbiology reveals Gram-negative intracellular diplococci.

Answer 1

Neiserria Gonorrhoea

Question 2

A 19-year-old student arrives in casualty, septic, pyrexial and confused with a pyrexia of 39oC. He has a stiff neck, and a lumbar puncture reveals Gram-negative intracellular diplococci

Answer 2

Neiseria meningitis

Question 3

A 6-year-old boy arrives in casualty, septic, pyrexial and confused with a pyrexia of 39oC. He has a stiff neck, and a lumbar puncture reveals gram-negative rods.

Answer 3

Haemophilus influenzae

Question 4

A 19-year-old student arrives in casualty, septic, pyrexial and confused with a pyrexia of 39oC and blood cultures grew Gram-positive diplococci.

Answer 4

Streptococcal pneumoniae

Question 5

A 19-year-old student arrives in casualty, septic, pyrexial and confused with a pyrexia of 39oC and blood cultures fail to culture any organisms. Cold agglutinins are positiv

Answer 5

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Question 6

A 19-year-old student has a boil on his leg which is 2cm in diameter, and painful. It is drained and some of the pus sent to microbiology. Eventually it grows Gram-positive cocci in clusters.

Answer 6

Straphylococcal aureus

Question 7

A 19-year-old has a mild fever for several months, and no cause can be found. After 2 months, blood cultures come back positive for Gram-positive cocci.

Answer 7

Streptococcal viridans