A chronic infectious disease caused by the mycobacterium tuberculosis is?

DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Applied Microbiology & Infection control

Easy

Appeared in: DSSSB - 29 August 2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

Tuberculosis (TB) is the specific name for the chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
This bacterium is an acid-fast, aerobic rod, meaning it retains stain even after acid treatment and thrives in high-oxygen environments like the apex of the lungs.
The disease is pathologically characterized by the formation of granulomas (tubercles), which is a form of chronic inflammation aimed at containing the infection.
While TB primarily affects the lungs (pulmonary TB), it can disseminate to other organs such as the kidneys, spine, and brain (extrapulmonary TB).

Option B: Pneumonia is a general term for lung inflammation (alveolitis), not a specific disease caused by one agent. It has many potential causes.
Option C: Brucellosis is caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella, not Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals.
Option D: Bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchial tubes, not the lung parenchyma. It is most commonly caused by viruses, not bacteria like M. tuberculosis.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Etiology of Tuberculosis helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses are central to TB control through patient education on infection prevention (e.g., respiratory hygiene), ensuring adherence to long-term antibiotic regimens (like DOTS), and monitoring for adverse drug reactions.
Correctly identifying TB is critical for implementing airborne precautions immediately in a hospital setting to prevent transmission to other patients and healthcare workers.
What if? If the causative agent was Streptococcus pneumoniae, the diagnosis would be pneumococcal pneumonia. The nurse would anticipate administering different antibiotics (e.g., amoxicillin) and implementing droplet precautions, not airborne precautions.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your foundational knowledge of microbiology.
Identify the key terms in the question stem: 'chronic infectious disease' and 'mycobacterium tuberculosis'.
The question is asking you to name the specific disease caused by this particular bacterium.
Evaluate each option. Recall that the disease Tuberculosis is named directly after its causative agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Eliminate the other options by recalling their definitions and common causes: Pneumonia is a general condition, Brucellosis is caused by Brucella, and Bronchitis is typically viral.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Qju9_Ri6r1c64IXXv4xsJ7

E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 375-377

E6 PATHOLOGY QUICK REVIEWBased on Harsh Mohan Textbook of PATHOLOGY p. 172-174

E6 Pathology-Vandana Puri & Kavita Gaur Textbook of Pathology and Genetics p. 155-157