What causes Syphilis?

Appeared in: MP CHO -2019 (Shift-2)

Explanation

Syphilis is a well-known sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a specific type of bacterium.
The causative organism is Treponema pallidum, which is classified as a spirochete.
Spirochetes are distinguished by their long, spiral or corkscrew shape, which is a key identifying feature.
This shape allows the bacterium to move effectively through viscous environments in the body and invade tissues.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: Helminths are parasitic worms, such as roundworms or tapeworms. They are multicellular organisms and cause diseases like ascariasis or filariasis, which are entirely different from syphilis.
Option B: Fungi are organisms like yeasts and molds. They cause infections such as candidiasis (thrush) or tinea pedis (athlete's foot), not syphilis.
Option C: Viruses are submicroscopic infectious agents that require a host cell to replicate. They are responsible for diseases like HIV/AIDS, influenza, and the common cold, but not syphilis.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Causative agent of Syphilis helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Recognizing that syphilis is a bacterial infection is fundamental for nurses to understand the rationale for antibiotic treatment, primarily with Penicillin G.
Nurses play a crucial role in patient education regarding transmission, prevention, and the importance of completing treatment to prevent progression to later, more severe stages of the disease.
Before administering penicillin, it is a critical nursing responsibility to assess for patient allergies to prevent anaphylactic reactions.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of microbiology.
First, identify the key term in the question: 'Syphilis'.
Next, access your knowledge about the causative agents of common infectious diseases.
Systematically evaluate each option: a helminth (worm), a fungus, a virus, and a spirochete bacterium.
Recall or deduce that Syphilis is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.
Match this bacterium to its correct classification, which is a spirochete due to its spiral shape.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Causative agent of Syphilis
Stem keywords: Syphilis, causes
Lead-in keywords: What

Question ID

QjAEhO8_GJt_3RSpoLsejv

Reference Book

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

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 1469-1471

E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 382-384

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