Problem 43 Name three bacteria that commonl... [FREE SOLUTION]

Chapter 13: Problem 43

Name three bacteria that commonly cause pneumonia. Which is the most common cause?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The most common cause is Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Step by step solution

Identify the Bacteria

The first step is to identify three bacteria that are known to commonly cause pneumonia. These bacteria are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Determine the Most Common Cause

Out of the identified bacteria, determine which one is the most frequent cause of pneumonia. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of pneumonia.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91影视!

Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of bacterial pneumonia. It is a gram-positive bacterium that often colonizes the respiratory tract. People with compromised immune systems, like the elderly or very young children, are particularly vulnerable.

Pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae is often severe, presenting symptoms such as:

High fever
Chills
Productive cough with yellow or green phlegm
Chest pain

Treatment usually involves antibiotics, and vaccines are available to prevent pneumococcal infections.

Haemophilus influenzae

Haemophilus influenzae is another significant bacterium responsible for pneumonia. Unlike Streptococcus pneumoniae, it is a gram-negative bacterium. It mainly affects children and is less common in adults.

Symptoms of Haemophilus influenzae-caused pneumonia include:

Fever
Shortness of breath
Cough with phlegm
Fatigue

Antibiotics are typically effective against this type of bacteria, and prevention can be achieved through vaccination. The Hib vaccine has significantly reduced cases of Haemophilus influenzae type b infections.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes what's known as 'walking pneumonia', which tends to be less severe than other forms. This bacterium doesn't have a cell wall, which makes it unique and more difficult to treat with standard antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis.

Symptoms usually include:

Low-grade fever
Persistent dry cough
Sore throat
Headache

Treatment often involves a different class of antibiotics like macrolides, tetracyclines, or fluoroquinolones. Because the symptoms are milder, people with Mycoplasma pneumoniae can often continue with their daily activities, hence the term 'walking pneumonia.'

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Recommended explanations on Biology Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

91影视

Name three bacteria that commonly cause pneumonia. Which is the most common cause?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Identify the Bacteria

Determine the Most Common Cause

Key Concepts

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Haemophilus influenzae

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

One App. One Place for Learning.

Most popular questions from this chapter

Recommended explanations on Biology Textbooks

Biology Experiments

Cellular Energetics

Communicable Diseases

Responding to Change

Energy Transfers

Plant Biology

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.