CASE C

This specimen is a smear from a deep laceration on the left foot of a 69-year-old man. This man had been mowing his lawn when the laceration occurred. He was taken to the emergency room of a small community hospital where the wound was superficially cleaned and then sutured. Over the next few days the patient became extremely ill with tremors and paralysis. He was transported to MUSC by helicopter. Upon admission, the wound was opened and found to contain a large amount of pus; this specimen was collected during the procedure. A week after this specimen was submitted and intensive therapy initiated, the patient died.

Look at the slide (This will open a new browser window that you can refer to while answering the questions below. Close when finished.)

How many different types of organisms are present in this smear?

1
2
3
4
5

 

Describe the morphology of the organism(s) seen in the smear. 

Gram positive bacilli and Gram positive cocci in chain
Gram negative bacilli and Gram positive cocci in chains
Gram positive bacilli and Gram positive cocci in clusters
Gram negative bacilli and Gram positive cocci in clusters
Gram positive bacilli and yeast
Gram negative bacilli and yeast

Describe the type of tissue cell(s) seen in the smear.

Epithelial cell
Macrophage
Red blood cells
Neutrophils

Name the genus of the Gram positive cocci in clusters seen on this Gram stain. Refer to the "Gram Stain Rsults" link on the left for assistance.

Clostridium
Cryptococcus
Neisseria
Staphylococcus
Streptococcus

 

When the Gram positive bacilli grew on agar plates under anaerobic conditions, another Gram stain showed spores at the end of some of the bacilli.  Refer to the “Gram Stain Results” link on the left for assistance and name the genus of this organism.?

Actinomyces
Bacteroides
Clostridium
Escherichia
Haemophilus