Question

A 6 year old boy is having symptoms such as fever and chills, cough, rapid breathing, difficulty breathing, and chest pain, culture from a sample shows Gram-positive culture, Identify the image:

• A. Streptococcus pneumoniae
• B. Staphylococcus
• C. Propionibacterium
• D. Mycobacterium

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

In this case, we need to identify the organism causing the symptoms in a 6-year-old boy based on the Gram-positive culture results and the given symptomatology. The symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, rapid breathing, difficulty in breathing, and chest pain are indicative of a respiratory infection, potentially pneumonia.

1. Given the symptom set, especially the presence of chest pain and respiratory issues, it is likely that the infection affects the lungs.
2. The culture results showing Gram-positive bacteria are crucial. Gram-positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer in their cell wall, which retains the crystal violet stain used in Gram staining, appearing purple under a microscope.
3. Among the options provided:
   • Streptococcus pneumoniae: This is a Gram-positive bacterium known to cause pneumonia, particularly in children. It presents as lancet-shaped diplococci.
   • Staphylococcus: Although it is Gram-positive, it typically causes skin infections and occasionally pneumonia, but not primarily associated with causing chest pain in young children.
   • Propionibacterium: Mainly associated with skin flora and acne, not typically a respiratory pathogen.
   • Mycobacterium: Not Gram-positive in the classical sense since it requires acid-fast staining. It includes tuberculosis-causing species.
4. Based on clinical presentation and typical pathogens, Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most likely cause of pneumonia in a 6-year-old with Gram-positive culture results. Therefore, the image likely represents Streptococcus pneumoniae, fitting the clinical and microbiological profile.