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Cindy, a grade 2 teacher, visits the clinic you are working in with complaints of frequent urination associated with a burning sensation and some blood in the urine. She has no fever and is otherwise healthy.

Which of the following organisms do you suspect could be causing this infection?
A. Streptococcus agalactiae
B. Streptococcus pyogenes
C. Escherichia coli
D. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
E. Staphylococcus saphrophyticus

User Mick Byrne
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Cindy's symptoms of burning sensation during urination and hematuria suggest a urinary tract infection caused by Escherichia coli, which is the most common bacterium responsible for cystitis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cindy, a grade 2 teacher, presents with symptoms of frequent urination with a burning sensation and hematuria (blood in the urine), but no fever. Based on these clinical manifestations, a urinary tract infection (UTI) is suspected, which is commonly caused by bacteria from the lower gastrointestinal tract entering the urinary system. While different pathogens can cause UTIs, the description of Cindy's symptoms points towards an infection probably involving the bladder, known as cystitis.

The most common bacterial cause of such infections is Escherichia coli (E. coli), which is a Gram-negative bacterium and a frequent member of the normal gastrointestinal microbiota. Given that Cindy has no fever and her infection symptoms seem limited to the urinary tract, E. coli becomes the prime suspect for her infection. Therefore, the correct answer to which organism could be causing her UTI is C. Escherichia coli.

It is important to note that other organisms could also potentially cause these symptoms, such as Staphylococcus saprophyticus, a Gram-positive pathogen associated with cystitis, particularly in young sexually active women. However, due to the prevalence of E. coli in UTIs, it remains the most likely cause.

User Bryan Grezeszak
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