Rheumatic fever can be caused by an infection with which organism?

Prepare for the Ultrasound Registry Review (URR) MV Abnormalities and Disease Test. Enhance your studies with quizzes, flashcards, and detailed explanations. Pass your exam with confidence!

Multiple Choice

Rheumatic fever can be caused by an infection with which organism?

Explanation:
Rheumatic fever follows an infection with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus. The illness arises from an autoimmune response in which antibodies formed against the streptococcal M protein cross-react with heart, joint, and nervous tissues, causing inflammatory damage after strep throat or skin infection. This immune-mediated mechanism makes beta-hemolytic streptococci the correct organism. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause other infections but are not linked to the post-streptococcal autoimmune process that leads to rheumatic fever.

Rheumatic fever follows an infection with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus. The illness arises from an autoimmune response in which antibodies formed against the streptococcal M protein cross-react with heart, joint, and nervous tissues, causing inflammatory damage after strep throat or skin infection. This immune-mediated mechanism makes beta-hemolytic streptococci the correct organism. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause other infections but are not linked to the post-streptococcal autoimmune process that leads to rheumatic fever.

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