Organism causing cholera?

AIIMS Raipur NO - 2019 (Shift-2)

Applied Microbiology & Infection control

Easy

Appeared in: AIIMS Raipur NO - 2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

Vibrio cholerae is a comma-shaped, gram-negative bacterium responsible for causing the acute diarrheal disease cholera.
The disease is toxin-mediated; the bacterium releases cholera toxin in the small intestine, which leads to severe fluid and electrolyte loss.
The primary mode of transmission is the fecal-oral route, often through contaminated water or food, leading to epidemics in areas with poor sanitation.
The characteristic symptom is profuse, painless, watery diarrhea described as "rice-water stool," which can rapidly lead to severe dehydration and shock.

Option A: This is not a real species. The genus Mycobacterium includes pathogens like M. tuberculosis and M. leprae, which cause tuberculosis and leprosy, respectively, not cholera.
Option B: While some strains of E. coli (e.g., Enterotoxigenic E. coli or ETEC) cause watery diarrhea, they are not the causative agent of the specific disease cholera, which is defined by infection with V. cholerae.
Option D: This is not a recognized species. The genus Salmonella causes diseases like typhoid fever (S. typhi) and salmonellosis, but it does not cause cholera.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Causative agent of cholera as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
The primary nursing priority in a patient with cholera is rapid assessment and management of dehydration. Failure to replace fluid and electrolyte losses can lead to hypovolemic shock and death within hours.
Nurses play a crucial role in public health education regarding cholera prevention, including promoting hand hygiene, safe water consumption, and proper food handling, especially during outbreaks.
What if? If a patient with suspected cholera presents with altered mental status and minimal urine output, the nurse should recognize these as signs of severe dehydration and hypovolemic shock, immediately initiating intravenous fluid resuscitation as per protocol, rather than relying on oral rehydration.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question, which is 'cholera'.
This is a factual recall question that requires knowledge of microbiology.
Access your knowledge base about common gastrointestinal pathogens and the diseases they cause.
Evaluate each option: 'Vibrio' is the genus specifically associated with cholera. The other genera, 'Mycobacterium' and 'Salmonella', are linked to different diseases (tuberculosis/leprosy and typhoid/salmonellosis, respectively). 'E. coli' causes diarrhea but not classic cholera.
Select the option that correctly pairs the pathogen with the disease: Vibrio cholerae causes cholera.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q3H4INxIwOd77939OJ7fRA

E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 788-790

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 1367-1369

E6 Microbiology Essentials Sastry 4e Part 2 p. 2