A 45-year-old man presents with fever, cough, and chest pain. A chest X-ray show
Practice Questions
Q1
A 45-year-old man presents with fever, cough, and chest pain. A chest X-ray shows a cavitary lesion in the right upper lobe. Which microorganism is most likely responsible for this condition?
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Legionella pneumophila
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
A 45-year-old man presents with fever, cough, and chest pain. A chest X-ray shows a cavitary lesion in the right upper lobe. Which microorganism is most likely responsible for this condition?
Correct Answer: Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Step 1: A 45-year-old man has symptoms: fever, cough, and chest pain.
Step 2: A chest X-ray is done to look at his lungs.
Step 3: The X-ray shows a cavitary lesion in the right upper lobe of the lung.
Step 4: Cavitary lesions in the lungs are often associated with certain infections.
Step 5: One common cause of cavitary lesions in the lungs is pulmonary tuberculosis.
Step 6: Pulmonary tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Step 7: Therefore, the microorganism most likely responsible for this man's condition is Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Cavitary Lung Lesions – Cavitary lesions in the lungs, especially in the upper lobes, are often associated with pulmonary tuberculosis and can also be seen in other conditions like lung abscesses or certain fungal infections.
Symptoms of Tuberculosis – Common symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis include fever, cough, and chest pain, which align with the presentation in this case.
Microorganisms Causing Lung Infections – Understanding the common pathogens responsible for lung infections, particularly in the context of cavitary lesions, is crucial for diagnosis.
