What Should a Microbiologist Do If He or She Finds $\alpha$

question 8

Multiple Choice

What should a microbiologist do if he or she finds $\alpha$ -hemolytic colonies on a properly collected sputum specimen on a patient suspected of having lobar pneumonia?

• A) Ignore the colonies because they are normal microbiota.
• B) Ignore the colonies because no known pathogens for pneumonia are \(\alpha\)-hemolytic.
• C) Do a full workup to identify the organism.
• D) Suspect a bioterror agent and send the isolate to a laboratory response network reference laboratory.

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Definitions:

Placenta

An organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy, providing oxygen and nutrients to the growing baby and removing waste products from the baby's blood.

Umbilical Cord

A flexible cord-like structure containing blood vessels that connects a fetus in the womb to its mother's placenta, providing oxygen and nutrients.

Yolk

The nutrient-rich central part of an egg that serves as food for the developing embryo in egg-laying animals.

Cephalocaudal Pattern

A principle of physical growth that states development progresses from the head (cephalo) towards the tail (caudal), meaning children typically gain control over the head, chest, and arm muscles before those of the legs.