Why Might It Be Easier to Identify the Bacterium That

question 29

Multiple Choice

Why might it be easier to identify the bacterium that caused pneumonia than one that caused a wound infection?

• A) There are very few microorganisms that can cause pneumonia, while there are many that can cause wound infections, including normal microbiota and a variety of environmental organisms.
• B) Bacteria that cause pneumonia can be identified with few tests because the lungs have no normal microbiota. Many bacteria are normally found on the skin however; these may be in the wound, complicating identification.
• C) We have much better tests for bacteria in the lungs than we do for bacteria on the skin which may be the causative agents of wounds infection.
• D) The techniques of 16S rRNA sequencing are easier to perform on a sample taken from the lungs than a sample taken from a wound, because it is easier to get a sputum sample than it is a wound sample.
• E) Very few people actually get pneumonia, so tests are quick and easy to carry out; on the other hand, many people get very serious wound infections, so the tests are more complicated.

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Definitions:

Behavior

The actions or reactions of an organism, often in response to its environment, which can be innate or learned.

Turtles

Reptiles with a bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield.

Ichthyosaurs

Extinct marine reptiles that resembled dolphins and lived during the time of the dinosaurs, known for their large eyes and streamlined bodies.

Pterosaur

An extinct group of flying reptiles that lived during the time of the dinosaurs, not dinosaurs themselves.