Gram-positive cocci in clusters were reported on preliminary direct Gram staining from a sputum specimen. The patient was treated with antibiotics. Following 48 hours of treatment, a secondary specimen was reported as gram-positive rods. The discrepancy in this result is:
a. the patient likely obtained a secondary infection following treatment of the first pathogen.
b. the antibiotics are effective and the gram-positive cocci are distorted due to inhibition of growth by the antibiotic.
c. the first preliminary Gram stain was erro-neous, and should have been reported as normal microbiota.
d. there is no discrepancy.
B
Following the administration of antibiotics, microorganisms will often demonstrate distorted cellular shapes. Most antimicrobial agents affect the growth of the organisms such as interfering with cell wall polymerization or cellular division resulting in abnormal growth patterns and ina-bility for cells to separate during multiplication.
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A decomposer
(a) is exemplified by a fungus. (b) is the same as a parasite. (c) feeds on living organic material. (d) feeds on primary consumers only.
Teichoic acids are:
a. waxy substances that are found in some bacterial cell walls that make the cells re-sistant to toxic substances, including ac-ids. b. glycerol- or ribitol-phosphate polymers that are combined with various sugars, amino acids, and amino sugars, which are a part of the cell wall of gram-positive bacteria. c. high–molecular-weight polysaccharides that coat some bacterial cells and protect the bacteria from attack by cells of the human defense system. d. hairlike, proteinaceous structures that ex-tend from the cell.
Which prokaryotic nutritional group use organic substances for carbon and photons for energy?
A. Photoautotrophs B. Chemoautotrophs C. Photoheterotrophs D. Chemoheterotrophs E. Methanoheterotrophs
A hydrogen bond _________.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).