A Stool Sample from the Patient Is Cultured, and Confirms

question 33

Multiple Choice

A stool sample from the patient is cultured, and confirms the presence of Clostridium botulinum. In addition, the stool sample as well as leftover stew and green beans are tested for botulinum toxin—toxin is present in the green beans and in the stool sample, but not in the stew. These results confirm the diagnosis of foodborne botulism. You are one of the RNs taking care of the patient—he remains in the hospital for several weeks, before being discharged.
-Please select the statement that does NOT apply to botulism.

• A) The causative agent is Clostridium botulinum.
• B) Clostridium endospores can germinate in food with an acidic pH.
• C) Vegetative Clostridium cells release botulinum toxin, a potent neurotoxin.
• D) The causative agent is an obligate anaerobe.
• E) Boiling home-canned foods for 10 minutes will destroy any botulinum toxin present.

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Definitions:

Likely

This term implies a high probability or strong chance that an event will happen.

Measurements

The act or process of quantifying physical or abstract attributes by using instruments or techniques.

Standard Error

A measure of the variability or dispersion of a sample statistic, indicating its precision as an estimate of the population parameter.

Sample Median

The middle value of a sample when the values are arranged in ascending or descending order, or the average of the two middle values if there is an even number of observations.