Exam C - Specimen Source & Potential Pathogens

Question 1

If the specimen source is throat or oropharynx, the expect pathogen could be…

Answer 1

Strep Group A, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Bordetella pertussis, and Haemophilus influenzae

Question 2

If the specimen source is from the eye, the expected pathogen could be…

Answer 2

Chlamydia or Neisseria gonorrhoeae (both in newborns)

Question 3

Normal flora of the thorat or oropharynx are…

Answer 3

Alpha strep, Staph sp., Neisseria sp., Gram positive rods, and anaerobes. Same bacteria for the eye but less in number

Question 4

If the specimen source is from the ear, the expected pathogen could be…

Answer 4

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae, or Streptococcus pneumoniae

Question 5

If the specimen is sputum from the lower respiratory tract the expected pathogens could be..

Answer 5

Haemophilus influenza, S. aureus, streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Legionella, or fungi

Question 6

If the specimen is from the transtrachial aspirate or lung tissue, the expected pathogens could be…

Answer 6

Anaerobes

Question 7

If the specimen is a gastric specimen (stomach) then the expected pathogen could be…

Answer 7

Helicobacter pylori - Rapid urease test

Question 8

If the specimen is from the colon, the expected pathogen could be…

Answer 8

Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni, Yersinia entercolitica, vibrio cholerae, Toxigenic E. coli, and clostridium difficile

Question 9

If the specimen is from the urinary tract, the expected pathogen could be…

Answer 9

E. coli, other gram negative rods, E. faecalis, and staphylococcus sp.

Question 10

If the specimen is from the genital tract, the expected pathogen could be….

Answer 10

Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Strep Group B (S. agalactiae), Herpes simplex, Trichomonas vaginalis, Treponema pallidum, and Gardnerella vaginalis

Question 11

If the specimen is CSF, the expected pathogen could be…

Answer 11

H. influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, E. coli, Strep Group B, Cryptococcus, and Listeria

Question 12

If the specimen is from the wound or abscess, the expected pathogen could be…

Answer 12

Anaerobes and Aerobes depending on site. Needle aspirate collection is better than swab collection

Question 13

If the specimen is from superficial wounds such as pustules, dermatitis, or rashes, the expected pathogen could be…

Answer 13

S. aureus, Strep Group A, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa