A 50-year-old female experiences decreased blood pressure, ...

[LaDunn]

A 50-year-old female experiences decreased blood pressure, decreased oxygen delivery, cardio-vascular shock, and subsequent death. A complication of endotoxic shock is suspected. Which of the following is the most likely cause?
 
  a. Gram-positive bacteria
  b. Fungi
  c. Gram-negative bacteria
  d. Virus

Question 2

After studying about viruses, which information indicates the student has a good understanding of viruses? Viruses:
 
  a. contain no DNA or RNA.
  b. are capable of independent reproduction.
  c. replicate their genetic material inside host cells.
  d. are easily killed by antimicrobials.

[lorealeza]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Symptoms of gram-negative septic shock are produced by endotoxins. Once in the blood, endo-toxins cause the release of vasoactive peptides and cytokines that affect blood vessels, producing vasodilation, which reduces blood pressure, causes decreased oxygen delivery, and produces subsequent cardiovascular shock. Gram-positive bacteria nor fungi do not produce endotoxins and thus do not manifest in shock. Viruses do not produce symptoms of shock.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
Virus replication depends totally on the ability of the virus to infect a permissive host cell, a cell that cannot resist viral invasion and replication. Viruses contain both DNA and RNA, are incapa-ble of independent reproduction, and cannot be killed by antimicrobials.