Which organism is commonly associated with epiglottitis?

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Multiple Choice

Which organism is commonly associated with epiglottitis?

Epiglottitis is a medical emergency where swelling of the epiglottis can rapidly obstruct the airway. The classic bacterial cause in children before Hib vaccination was Haemophilus influenzae type b. This organism is a small Gram-negative coccobacillus that requires X (hemin) and V (NAD+) factors to grow and is encapsulated with a type b capsule. Vaccination against Hib has dramatically reduced its incidence, making it the organism most traditionally associated with epiglottitis. The other organisms listed—Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae—are linked to other infections but are not the classic culprits for epiglottitis.

Epiglottitis is a medical emergency where swelling of the epiglottis can rapidly obstruct the airway. The classic bacterial cause in children before Hib vaccination was Haemophilus influenzae type b. This organism is a small Gram-negative coccobacillus that requires X (hemin) and V (NAD+) factors to grow and is encapsulated with a type b capsule. Vaccination against Hib has dramatically reduced its incidence, making it the organism most traditionally associated with epiglottitis. The other organisms listed—Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae—are linked to other infections but are not the classic culprits for epiglottitis.

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