Question

1. A cystic fibrosis patient with normal coloration of the mucus is infected with a bacteria able to metabolize a variety of organic chemicals. What is this nosocomial pathogen common among cystic fibrosis patients?

Haemophilus influenzae

Burkholderia

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Klebsiella pneumoniae

Coxiella burnetii

Answer 1

1.ANS: BURKHOLDERIA

Hemophilus influenzae:It is a gram negative anaerobic bacteria.Haemophilus influenzae is regularly involved in chronic lung infections and acute exacerbations of CF patients.

Burkholderia :Burkholderia cepacia (B. cepacia) is a group of bacteria found naturally in wet soil and decaying plants. a bacteria which used to be called Pseudomonas cepacia, is a rare but significant threat to people living with cystic fibrosis (CF). While the infection is most often symptom-free, it can turn serious, and even life-threatening.The bacteria  is capable of growing on over 200 organic compounds.It has an ability to use the chlorinated aromatic compound 2,4,5- trichlorophenoxyacetic acid as a source of carbon and energy.It is a frequent nosocomial pathogen of cystic fibrosis patients

Pseudomonas aeruginosa:Chronic lung infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa remain the main cause of the morbidity and mortality associated with cystic fibrosis.P. aeruginosa possesses several virulence factors, one of which is pyoverdine, the major siderophore that uses iron from the host to facilitate bacterial growth . Siderophores are molecules which binds and transports iron in microorganisms.A cystic fibrosis patient develops a severe respiratory infection that resists treatment with standard antibiotics. A specimen from the lungs is greenish in color when affected with this bacteria.

Klebsiella pneumoniae:Klebsiella pneumonia, a Gram-negative bacterium, produces a siderophore known as yersiniabactin and evades the host’s antibacterial iron-depleting defense.

Coxiella burnetii :Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii. These bacteria are distributed globally and can produce atypical pneumonia, fever, hepatitis or endocarditis. Less common characteristics of Q fever are cirrhosis and lung scarring (interstitial pulmonary fibrosis).