Which of the following sexually transmitted diseases has a bacterial origin?

Appeared in: AIIMS Bhopal NO - 2018 (Shift-1st)

Explanation

Syphilis is the correct answer as it is caused by a bacterium.
The specific bacterium is Treponema pallidum, a type of spirochete.
As a bacterial infection, syphilis is primarily treated with antibiotics, with penicillin being the drug of choice for all stages of the infection.

Option A: Trichomonas vaginitis is caused by a protozoan parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis, not a bacterium.
Option B: Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), not a bacterium.
Option D: Scabies is a skin infestation caused by a parasitic mite, Sarcoptes scabiei. It is not a bacterial infection.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification of sexually transmitted diseases based on their causative pathogen as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Correctly identifying the pathogen type (bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic) is the most critical step in managing STDs, as it dictates the entire treatment plan.
A nurse must educate the patient that antibiotics like penicillin are only effective for bacterial infections such as syphilis and will have no effect on viral (Hepatitis B), protozoal (Trichomoniasis), or parasitic (Scabies) infections.
What if? If a patient with syphilis is allergic to penicillin, the nurse must be aware of alternative antibiotic regimens (e.g., doxycycline, tetracycline) and ensure this critical allergy information is communicated to the prescribing provider.

How to Approach the Question

First, carefully read the question and identify the core requirement: to find the sexually transmitted disease with a 'bacterial origin'.
Systematically review each option provided.
Recall or deduce the causative agent for each disease: Trichomonas Vaginitis (protozoan), Hepatitis B (virus), Syphilis (bacterium), and Scabies (parasitic mite).
Compare the causative agent of each option against the requirement ('bacterial').
Select the option that matches the criteria. In this case, Syphilis is the only disease caused by a bacterium (Treponema pallidum).

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Classification of sexually transmitted diseases based on their causative pathogen.
Stem keywords: sexually transmitted diseases, bacterial origin
Lead-in keywords: Which

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E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 357-359

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 1138-1140

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 1015-1017

Practise the full AIIMS Bhopal NO - 2018 (Shift-1st)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.