Question

In the winter of 1993, five students from one middle school in Seattle were diagnosed with meningococcal disease. The incidence of the disease had been climbing for two years in the area of Washington State, as well as in the rest of the country, and has continued to climb since then. In the Seattle outbreak, health officials identified one strain of the causative organism that was responsible for the increased incidence.

A. What type of organism wouldyou look for in a Gram stain of blood or spinal fluid in these cases?
B. What is the organism's portal of entry to the host? Could you swab the portal of entry (see question 2) to detect the presence of the organism?
C. Why or why not? What type of symptoms are associated with meningococcal disease?
D. A total of 900 students attend the affected middle school. What measures should have been taken to protect the remaining 895 students from acquiring meningococcal disease?

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

A. Meningococcal meningitis; Neisseria meningtidis, these are the major causative bacteria of meningococcal disease

B. oral-fecal entry route and it can be swabbed, however, it is part of normal microbiota thus this may not really be helpful

c. symptoms associated with this disease are;

1. fever

2. stiff back and neck

3. headache

4. petechiae

D. preventive measure is to administer prophylatic treatment such as rifranoman to prevent a larger outbreak

infected students should be sent home or isolated for treatment