Which of the following causative organism responsible for Moniliasis?

Chitranjjan National Cancer Institute Kolkata - 2021

Microbiology

Easy

Appeared in: Chitranjjan National Cancer Institute Kolkata - 2021

Explanation

Moniliasis is an older term for Candidiasis, a fungal infection.
The most common causative agent of Candidiasis is Candida albicans, a dimorphic yeast.
C. albicans is a normal commensal in the mouth, gastrointestinal tract, and vagina, but can cause infection when conditions are favorable (e.g., weakened immunity, antibiotic use).
Infections can be superficial (affecting skin and mucous membranes) or, in rare cases, systemic and life-threatening in immunocompromised individuals.

Option B: Tinea cruris, commonly known as jock itch, is the name of a disease, not a causative organism. It is a fungal infection of the groin area.
Option C: Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium, not a fungus. It is a common cause of bacterial skin infections, such as boils and cellulitis, as well as more serious conditions like pneumonia and sepsis.
Option D: Gonococci refers to Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium that causes the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea. It is not a fungus and does not cause Moniliasis.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Identification of the causative organism for Moniliasis (Candidiasis) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses frequently assess for and manage candidal infections, especially oral thrush in infants and patients using inhaled steroids, and diaper dermatitis in infants.
Patient education is a key nursing role, involving teaching about risk factors (e.g., antibiotic side effects) and preventive measures like proper hygiene, keeping skin dry, and managing blood sugar in diabetic patients.
What if? If a patient with oral thrush is also severely neutropenic (low white blood cell count), the risk of the Candida infection becoming systemic (candidemia) is very high. This requires immediate escalation, blood cultures, and systemic antifungal therapy, as it can be life-threatening.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'Moniliasis'.
Recall that Moniliasis is an alternative name for Candidiasis.
Next, analyze the core of the question, which asks for the 'causative organism'.
Evaluate the options to identify which one is the known cause of Candidiasis.
Option A, Candida albicans, is the primary yeast that causes these infections.
Eliminate the other options by identifying what they are: Tinea cruris is a disease name, while Staphylococcus aureus and Gonococci are bacteria.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Identification of the causative organism for Moniliasis (Candidiasis).
Stem keywords: causative organism, Moniliasis
Lead-in keywords: Which
Negative lead-in flag: false

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