Sherry Ann Faye Tambo BSN 1D

School of Health and Natural Sciences

CENTER FOR NATURAL SCIENCES
Microbiology and Parasitology

Activity
Infections of the Respiratory Tract

Objective
To be able to develop analytical thinking in the students by presenting cases or situations related
to infections of the respiratory tract.

Case 1
A 7-year-old child was brought to the emergency room because of fever and prolonged episode
of forceful, dry hacking cough with a distinct inspiratory whoop. The patient has no history of
immunization.

1. What is the most probable diagnosis?

The probable diagnosis for this case is a nose or throat culture test, blood test, and
a chest x-ray however, in its early stages, it can be difficult to determine because the signs
and symptoms resemble those of other common respiratory illnesses, such as a cold, the
flu or bronchitis.

2. What is the most probable causative agent and its characteristics?

The causative agent for this dry hacking cough with a distinct inspiratory whoop
is a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis where it can affect other people when the
infected person cough or sneezes and breath into the lungs of anyone who is nearby.

3. What specimen is used for culturing the organism? What culture medium of choice is
used?
Bordet-Gengou and Regan-Lowe agars are the media of choice for culture of
clinical specimens to detect pertussis. Addition of the antibiotic cephalexin has been
recommended to inhibit growth of contaminating bacteria.

4. What are the stages of this infection and the corresponding manifestations of each stage?
There are three stages in this infection where it is an acute tracheobronchitis. Here
are the following stages:
a. Catarrhal stage- most contagious stage
b. Paroxysmal stage- hacking cough, high pitched breath “whoop”
c. Convalescent stage- recovery

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 Sherry Ann Faye Tambo BSN 1D

5. How is the infection prevented? Which vaccine should be given, how is it given, and what
is the schedule for giving the vaccine?
The best way to prevent this infection is to get vaccinated by erythromycin or
just simply avoid infected people. Pertussis vaccine is the vaccine that is given to this
infection that protects against whooping cough wherein, it is called

Case 2
A 35-year-old male construction worker complains of non-productive cough associated with
afternoon rises in body temperature, night sweats, loss of appetite and weight loss.

1. Besides M. tuberculosis, what other microorganisms can present with TB-like symptoms?
One of the most common is Mycobacterium avium, which can cause symptoms
similar to tuberculosis, such as cough, fever, fatigue, and weight loss.

2. What tests should you request for the diagnosis of this infection?
The test I request for the diagnosis of this infection is Sputum Culture.

3. What is the proper way of collecting specimen for sputum examination?

The proper way of collecting specimen for sputum examination is inhale deep then
cough hard until some sputum comes out from the mouth.

4. Discuss the characteristics of M. tuberculosis as to the following:

a. Staining reaction
-Gram staining is a differential staining technique that differentiates bacteria into
two groups: gram-positives and gram-negatives. The procedure is based on the ability
of microorganisms to retain color of the stains used during the gram stain reaction.
b. Cell wall components
-A cell wall is a structural layer surrounding some types of cells, just outside
the cell membrane. It can be tough, flexible, and sometimes rigid. It provides
the cell with both structural support and protection, and also acts as a filtering
mechanism.
c. Growth characteristics
-Growth is defined as an irreversible constant increase in the size of an organ or
even an individual cell.
d. Virulence factors
-Examples are toxins, surface coats that inhibit phagocytosis, and surface receptors
that bind to host cells.

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 Sherry Ann Faye Tambo BSN 1D

5. How is pulmonary tuberculosis treated?

Pulmonary tuberculosis is treated by taking medicine like Rapamycin, Isoniazid,
pyrazinamide, ethambutol and streptomycin.

6. Discuss ways by which the disease can be prevented and contributed.

Prevent the disease by wearing a mask and isolate the patient that has tb within 2
weeks of taking meds.

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