Who among the following discovered Mycobacterium tuberculosis?

Appeared in: Maharashtra CHO - 2020

Explanation

Robert Koch identified Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the causative agent of tuberculosis in 1882.
He developed crucial microbiological techniques, including staining methods and the use of solid media for culturing bacteria.
Koch formulated his famous postulates to scientifically link a specific microorganism to a specific disease.
For his groundbreaking research on tuberculosis, Robert Koch was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1905.

Option B: Louis Pasteur is famous for the germ theory of disease, pasteurization, and developing vaccines for rabies and anthrax, not for discovering the tuberculosis bacterium.
Option C: Sir Rohan Das is not a recognized figure credited with significant discoveries in the field of microbiology.
Option D: Sir Alexander Fleming's landmark discovery was penicillin in 1928, the world's first mass-produced antibiotic.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain History of Microbiology and Key Discoveries as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Koch's discovery is the foundation of modern TB diagnosis and treatment. The acid-fast stain (Ziehl-Neelsen stain), developed based on his work, is still used to identify M. tuberculosis.
Nurses must implement strict airborne precautions (e.g., N95 respirators, negative pressure rooms) for patients with suspected or confirmed TB, a protocol stemming from the understanding that it's a communicable disease.
Patient education on treatment adherence is a critical nursing role. The Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS) strategy is a cornerstone of global TB control.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question based on the history of medicine and microbiology.
First, identify the key terms in the question: 'discovered' and 'Mycobacterium tuberculosis'.
Access your knowledge of major figures in microbiology.
Associate Robert Koch with the discovery of the TB bacillus and his postulates.
Differentiate this from the contributions of other scientists. Recall that Pasteur is linked to pasteurization and germ theory, and Fleming to penicillin.
Eliminate the options that are clearly incorrect (Fleming, Pasteur) and the one that is not a recognized name in this context (Sir Rohan Das) to arrive at the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Microbiology Applied AnjuDhir 3e Part 1 pp. 34-36, 40-42

E6 Microbiology Essentials Sastry 4e Part 1 p. 26-28

Practise the full Maharashtra CHO - 2020

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