A 68 year old woman underwent mechanical aortic valve replacement 3 months ago. She now presents with fever and malaise. Blood cultures repeatedly grow coagulase negative catalase positive gram positive cocci that are novobiocin sensitive. Which of the following virulence traits most likely contributed to this organism's ability to infect her valve?
- A)Dextran mediated binding to fibrin on natural valves
- B)Biofilm formation on prosthetic materialGABARITO
- C)M protein mediated complement inhibition
- D)Exotoxin A mediated ADP ribosylation
- E)Capsule production that inhibits phagocytosis
Explicação
Early prosthetic valve endocarditis is classically caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis, a coagulase negative, novobiocin sensitive organism. Its major pathogenic advantage is biofilm formation on prosthetic devices, which facilitates adherence and protects ba... Ver explicação completa e trilha adaptativa →