Which of the following organisms is associated with peptic ulcer disease?

HP CHO -9 October 2022

Medical Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: HP CHO -9 October 2022

Explanation

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram-negative, spiral-shaped bacterium recognized as the primary infectious cause of peptic ulcer disease.
The bacterium produces a potent enzyme, urease, which converts urea into ammonia. This neutralizes stomach acid, allowing the bacteria to survive and colonize the gastric mucosa.
The colonization and the resulting inflammatory response damage the protective mucosal lining of the stomach and duodenum, leading to the formation of ulcers.
Chronic infection with H. pylori is a significant risk factor for developing gastric cancer and is classified as a Class I carcinogen.

Option B: The Hepatitis-B virus primarily targets and causes inflammation of the liver (hepatitis). It is not a causative agent for peptic ulcers.
Option C: Treponema pallidum is the bacterium that causes syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection. It does not cause peptic ulcer disease.
Option D: The measles virus causes measles (rubeola), a highly contagious respiratory disease. It has no association with peptic ulcers.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Etiology of Peptic Ulcer Disease helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses play a key role in patient education regarding H. pylori eradication. Emphasizing medication adherence for the full course of triple or quadruple therapy is crucial to prevent treatment failure, recurrence, and antibiotic resistance.
A key nursing intervention is to advise patients to avoid gastric irritants like NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, aspirin), alcohol, and smoking, as these can exacerbate ulcer symptoms and delay healing.
What if? If a patient is allergic to penicillin (a common component of H. pylori therapy, like amoxicillin), the nurse should anticipate the provider prescribing an alternative regimen, often substituting metronidazole for amoxicillin, and must verify allergies before medication administration.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key concepts in the question stem: 'organism' and 'peptic ulcer disease'. This directs you to think about infectious causes of this condition.
This is a factual recall question. Access your knowledge from microbiology and medical-surgical nursing regarding common gastrointestinal pathologies.
Systematically evaluate each option. Recall or deduce the primary disease associated with each organism.
H. pylori is widely known as the main bacterial cause of peptic ulcers.
Eliminate the other options: Hepatitis B virus causes liver disease, Treponema pallidum causes syphilis, and Measles virus causes measles.
By this process of elimination and direct recall, you can confidently select H. pylori as the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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