Final answer:
Streptococcus pneumoniae, when causing pneumococcal pneumonia, is commonly associated with a productive cough and bloody sputum. It can be identified in clinical samples by its gram-positive, lancet-shaped diplococci appearance and its alpha hemolytic properties on blood agar.
Step-by-step explanation:
Streptococcus pneumoniae, commonly referred to as pneumococcus, is often associated with pneumonia and other respiratory infections. One of the hallmarks of pneumococcal pneumonia, a common presentation of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, is a productive cough with bloody sputum. This symptom arises as the infection spreads to the alveoli of the lungs, causing an inflammatory response that leads to the alveoli filling with exudate rich in neutrophils and red blood cells.
In clinical settings, S. pneumoniae can be identified in sputum samples through microscope examination, staining, and culture. The organism appears as gram-positive, lancet-shaped diplococci on gram-stained slides and demonstrates alpha hemolysis when grown on blood agar. In patients like Camila, who presented with symptoms consistent with pneumonia, the isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae from sputum strongly suggests that this bacterium is the causative agent of her pneumonia.