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CLINICAL CASE
An elderly woman presents with a cough producing rusty-colored sputum. She complains of sharp right-sided chest pains,
chills, and fevers. Physical exam reveals increased fremitus, dullness to percussion, and bronchial breath sounds on the lower
right side. CXR shows right lower lobe consolidation, and Gram stain of sputum shows Gram diplococci. Physicians begin
treatment with cephalosporins.
Pneumococci Streptococcus pneumoniae
Capsule:
antiphagocytic
makes bacteria
Quellung +
antigens for Pneumovax
Diplococci
Gram + bacteria
cocci
catalase
hemolytic
optochin
susceptible
optochin
resistant
S. pneumoniae S. mutans,
S. intermedius
bile-esculin
negative
011-033_Harpavat_CoreCards_GramPosBacteria.indd 22 7/10/11 1:15 AM