A 52-Year-Old Man Comes to the Office with 3 Weeks

A 52-year-old man comes to the office with 3 weeks of cough, night sweats, and occasional hemoptysis.  The patient also has diabetes and hypertension.  He emigrated from Vietnam 15 years ago to start a job as an associate professor at a university.  He has a 20-year smoking history but quit 5 years ago.  Sputum cultures grown on a selective medium demonstrate mycobacteria that appear as parallel chains (serpentine cords) under microscopy.  This observed growth pattern in culture medium most strongly correlates with which of the following?

A) Acid-fastness
B) Antibiotic resistance
C) Growth rates
D) Pigmentation
E) Virulence

Correct Answer:

Verified

Unlock this answer now
Get Access to more Verified Answers free of charge

Access For Free