Which of the following causative organism responsible for syphilis?

Appeared in: Chitranjjan National Cancer Institute Kolkata - 2021

Explanation

Treponema pallidum is a spirochete, which is a type of spiral-shaped bacterium.
It is the definitive and sole causative agent of the sexually transmitted infection known as syphilis.
The bacterium is transmitted primarily through sexual contact or congenitally from an infected mother to her fetus.
Syphilis progresses through distinct stages (primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary) if left untreated, each with characteristic signs.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option A: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus, not a bacterium. It attacks the immune system and causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Option B: Sarcoptes scabiei is a parasitic mite, not a bacterium. It burrows into the skin and causes scabies, a condition characterized by intense itching.
Option C: Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a gram-negative bacterium that causes gonorrhea, another common sexually transmitted infection.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Etiology of Syphilis helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Accurate identification of the causative agent is critical for correct treatment. Bacterial STIs like syphilis and gonorrhea are curable with antibiotics (e.g., Penicillin for syphilis), whereas viral infections like HIV require lifelong antiretroviral therapy.
Nurses play a key role in patient education regarding STIs, including prevention, modes of transmission, and the importance of completing treatment and notifying partners.
Screening for syphilis is a standard part of antenatal care to prevent congenital syphilis, which can cause severe complications or death in newborns.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of microbiology and infectious diseases.
Identify the core subject of the question, which is the 'causative organism' for 'syphilis'.
Systematically review each option, which lists a different pathogen.
Recall the specific bacterium associated with syphilis from your studies.
Mentally eliminate the incorrect options by linking them to the diseases they are known to cause: HIV with AIDS, Sarcoptes scabiei with scabies, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae with gonorrhea.
Confirm that Treponema pallidum is the correct pathogen for syphilis.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Etiology of Syphilis
Stem keywords: causative organism, syphilis
Lead-in keywords: Which

Question ID

QlsuIx6NX0wa0ial0ymMe9

Reference Book

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

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

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