Microbiology

Question 1

Clinical features of pneumonia

Answer 1

Fever
Pleuritic chest pain
Cough with rusty coloured or green sputum
Breathlessness
Systemic: Myalgia, Arthralgia, Headache

Question 2

What are characteristic physical signs of pneumonia

Answer 2

Fever
Consolidation (dullness to percussion, bronchial breathing)
Pleural effusion (stony dullness)

Question 3

Top 5 pathogens that cause pneumonia (in order)

Answer 3

1. Streptococcus pneumoniae
2. Haemophilus influenzae
3. Influenza A virus
4. Mycoplasma pneumoniae
5. Legionella pneumophila
   (6. Chlamydia pneumoniae)

Question 4

Investigations for pneumoniae

Answer 4

Sputum
Blood cultures
Serology
Urine

Question 5

Example of serology investigation

Answer 5

ELISA or Complement fixation testing

Question 6

What pathogens can be yielded by serology (ELISA or complement fixation testing)

Answer 6

Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Chlamydia spp.
Coxiella burnetii

Question 7

Example of pathogen that can be found in urine examination

Answer 7

Legionella pneumophila

Question 8

Different lab handlings of sputum

Answer 8

Homogenise
ZN smear
Culture (Chocolate/aerobic or blood agar/anaerobic)
Rapid MGIT culture/PCR

Question 9

What pathogen can be yielded from ZN smear or PCR of sputum

Answer 9

TB

Question 10

What pathogens can be yielded by chocolate agar culture

Answer 10

(AEROBIC)
Strep pneumoniae
Haemophilus influenzae
Staph aureus
Gram-negative bacilli

Question 11

What pathogens can be yielded by blood agar culture

Answer 11

(ANAEROBIC)
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Oral anaerobes (fusobacteria)

Question 12

What test can be done with blood cultures

Answer 12

Gram film

Question 13

What pathogens can be yielded from blood culture

Answer 13

Haemophilus influenzae (aerobic)
Staph aureus (aerobic)
Strep pneumoniae (aerobic or anaerobic)
Gram-negative bacilli (MacConkey)