7 Questions
What is the most common cause of meningitis in adults over 20 years of age?
Streptococcus pneumoniae
What is the most important predisposing condition for pneumococcal meningitis?
Chronic sinusitis
What percentage of humans are normal inhabitants of the upper respiratory tract of pneumococci?
5-40%
What is the growth condition that enhances pneumococci growth?
5-10% CO2
What is the shape of pneumococci colonies on agar medium?
Small and round
What is the function of the polysaccharide capsule in Streptococcus pneumoniae?
To allow for typing with specific antisera
Which of the following is not a risk factor for pneumococcal meningitis?
Hypergammaglobulinemia
Study Notes
- Bacterial meningitis is an acute purulent infection within the subarachnoid space.
- Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of meningitis in adults >20 years of age.
- Pneumococcal pneumonia is the most important predisposing condition for pneumococcal meningitis.
- Other risk factors for pneumococcal meningitis include coexisting acute or chronic pneumococcal sinusitis or otitis media, alcoholism, diabetes, splenectomy, hypogammaglobulinemia, complement deficiency, and head trauma with basilar skull fracture and CSF rhinorrhea.
- Streptococcus pneumoniae is a gram-positive diplococcus with a polysaccharide capsule that permits typing with specific antisera.
- Pneumococci are normal inhabitants of the upper respiratory tract of 5-40% of humans.
- Pneumococci can cause pneumonia, sinusitis, otitis, bronchitis, bacteremia, meningitis, peritonitis, and other infectious processes.
- Pneumococci are α-hemolytic on blood agar and growth is enhanced by 5-10% CO2.
- Pneumococci form small round colonies, at first dome-shaped and later developing a central depression with an elevated rim.
- Capsule production is not essential for growth on agar medium, and capsular production is therefore lost after a small number of subcultures.
Test your knowledge about Streptococcus pneumoniae and pneumococcal meningitis with this informative quiz! Learn about the most common causes, risk factors, and symptoms of bacterial meningitis. Discover the characteristics of pneumococci and their ability to cause various infectious processes. Enhance your understanding of the role of capsule production in growth and typing of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Challenge yourself with this quiz and become an expert in the field!
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
