Treponema pallidum causes one of the following:

Appeared in: IGNOU PB Bsc Entrance-2022

Explanation

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum.
Transmission occurs primarily through direct contact with an infectious lesion, known as a chancre, during sexual activity.
The bacterium is spiral-shaped and highly motile, allowing it to penetrate mucous membranes or breaks in the skin.
If untreated, the disease progresses through primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary stages, affecting multiple organ systems.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: Gonorrhoea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which is a gram-negative diplococcus, not Treponema pallidum.
Option C: Chancroid is caused by the bacterium Haemophilus ducreyi. It is characterized by painful genital ulcers, unlike the painless chancre of primary syphilis.
Option D: HIV infection is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which is a retrovirus, not a bacterium like Treponema pallidum.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Causative agent of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses are vital in STI prevention through patient education on safe sex practices, screening, and ensuring treatment adherence to prevent transmission and complications like neurosyphilis.
Recognizing the different clinical presentations of STIs is crucial for accurate nursing assessment. For example, distinguishing the painless chancre of syphilis from the painful ulcers of chancroid or herpes is a key diagnostic clue.
What if? If a patient with suspected syphilis has a penicillin allergy, the nurse must anticipate an alternative treatment plan, such as using doxycycline, and monitor the patient for any adverse reactions to the different antibiotic.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question testing knowledge of microbiology and infectious diseases.
First, identify the pathogen named in the question stem: Treponema pallidum.
Next, access your knowledge base about common sexually transmitted infections and their causative agents.
Systematically evaluate each option. Recall that Treponema pallidum is the classic spirochete bacterium that causes syphilis.
Eliminate the other options by identifying their correct causative agents: Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Gonorrhoea), Haemophilus ducreyi (Chancroid), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV infection).

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Causative agent of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Stem keywords: Treponema pallidum, causes
Lead-in keywords: one of the following
Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

QmiW2aYWvCvqbBs7srzDXI

Reference Book

E6 Microbiology Essentials Sastry 4e Part 1 p. 85-87

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 2039-2041

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