The sputum of a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is stained with Kinyoun's carbolfuchsin stain. Which organism would test positive using this stain?
a. Streptomyces spp.
b. Pneumocystis jiroveci
c. S. aureus
d. Cryptosporidium spp.
Evaluation of the quality of the sputum specimen sent to the laboratory for bacterial culture is best performed by:
a. measuring the amount of mucus found.
b. checking for mucus or blood.
c. microscopically examining the Gram-stained smear for leukocytes.
d. microscopically examining the Gram-stained smear for squamous epi-thelial cells.
Adenoviruses are one of the most common etiologic agents of lower respiratory tract infection among:
a. previously healthy patients 2 months to 5 years of age.
b. adults younger than 30 years of age.
c. community-acquired pneumonia in adults.
d. school-age children.
A 36-year-old emergency medical technician (EMT) is exposed to a patient with brucellosis. Blood cultures are drawn from the EMT and reported as negative after 1 week. Which of the following statements explains this discrepancy?
a. The blood culture system is most likely not correctly functioning.
b. Brucella does not grow in the blood.
c. The blood culture bottles are most likely expired.
d. The blood should have been incubated for a minimum of 3 weeks.
Inflammation of the larynx that is usually associated with the common cold or influenza syndromes and that is caused almost exclusively by viruses is:
a. laryngitis.
b. laryngotracheobronchitis.
c. epiglottitis.
d. Vincent angina.