"Klebs Loeffler bacillus" is the name of?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2018

Explanation

The term 'Klebs-Loeffler bacillus' is the historical name, or eponym, for the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
It is named after the scientists Edwin Klebs, who first observed the bacterium, and Friedrich Loeffler, who first isolated it in pure culture.
Corynebacterium diphtheriae is a Gram-positive bacillus known for causing the disease diphtheria.
Its characteristic features include a club-shaped appearance and a tendency to form palisade or 'Chinese letter' arrangements on a microscope slide.

Option A: Streptococci are Gram-positive cocci that grow in chains. They are a different genus and are responsible for a wide range of infections like strep throat and skin infections, but not diphtheria.
Option B: Salmonella typhi is a Gram-negative bacillus that causes typhoid fever, an enteric illness. It is morphologically and pathologically distinct from C. diphtheriae.
Option D: Meningococci is the common name for Neisseria meningitidis, a Gram-negative diplococcus. It is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis, a completely different disease from diphtheria.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Microbiology: Bacterial Eponyms as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Recognizing eponyms like 'Klebs-Loeffler bacillus' is important for understanding medical literature and historical context, linking them to the current bacterial name and associated disease.
For a patient with suspected diphtheria, the nurse's priority actions include initiating droplet precautions, monitoring for airway obstruction from the pseudomembrane, and preparing for the administration of diphtheria antitoxin.
Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable disease. Nurses play a crucial role in educating the public and ensuring compliance with the DTaP/Tdap vaccination schedule.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the question as a factual recall question from microbiology.
Recognize that "Klebs Loeffler bacillus" is an eponym, a name derived from the people who discovered it.
Access your knowledge base to link this specific eponym to its corresponding scientific name.
The correct association is Klebs-Loeffler bacillus with Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the causative agent of diphtheria.
Review the other options to confirm they are incorrect. Streptococci, Salmonella, and Meningococci are distinct organisms causing different diseases.
Select the option that correctly identifies Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q9AG1GdjA8ch4Gis4jy-7o

E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 367-369

Practise the full RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2018

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.