Reference no: EM132761403
Kate is finishing up her first semester as a nursing stu- dent. She has enjoyed her classes, but she is also really looking forward to winter break. After spending the holiday with her family, Kate and her boyfriend, Mark, are planning a week of skiing at a resort in Colorado. It will be a great way to relax and recharge before spring semester.
Kate and Mark have a great trip-there's fresh snow every day, and the skiing is top-notch. The resort has a sauna and hot tub, and Kate and Mark have used both as a way to unwind after each day of skiing. The trip has been everything they wanted, and they return home ready for the new semester.
The day after they return, Kate notices that she has some redness on her legs, stomach, and back. The fol- lowing day, Kate's legs are swollen, and they hurt; the red areas now look like she has acne on her legs, stom- ach, and back. She also has a headache and a low-grade fever. Kate calls Mark to see how he is feeling-he says that he has some itchy spots around his waist and on his upper thighs, but nothing like Kate's symptoms. Kate decides to make an appointment with her doctor just to make sure it's nothing too serious
After examining Kate and hearing about her trip to Colorado, Dr. Moore tells Kate that she most likely got an infection from the hot tub at the resort. The doctor takes a specimen from Kate's pimples to send for lab analysis. The pim-
ples are the result of folliculitis; while Kate is currently feeling some discomfort, the condition should clear up on its own. Dr. Moore recommends the use of an over-the-counter anti-itch cream contain- ing hydrocortisone to help relieve some of the discomfort. he also recommends that Kate contact the resort and inform them of her condition; other guests may also have been infected.
After examining Kate and hearing about her trip to Colorado, Dr. Moore tells Kate that she most likely got an infection from the hot tub at the resort. The doctor takes a specimen from Kate's pimples to send for lab analysis. The pimples are the result of folliculitis; while Kate is currently feeling some discomfort, the condition should clear up on its own. Dr. Moore recommends the use of an over-the-counter anti-itch cream contain- ing hydrocortisone to help relieve some of the discomfort. he also recommends that Kate contact the resort and inform them of her condition; other guests may also have been infected.
When Kate contacts the resort, she finds out that four other guests have already reported similar symptoms after using the hot tub. The resort manager informs Kate th the local health department tested the hot tub and found Pseudomonas aerugi- nosa. Dr. Moore calls Kate with the lab results-P. aeruginosa was cultured from her pimples. Kate continues to use the anti-itch cream, and within a week, her pimples are gone.
1. What are two virulence factors that P. aeruginosa uses to cause infection? Explain how each of these contributes to pathogenicity.
2. Describe the steps in the development of Kate's folliculitis. Start with Kate's soaking in the hot tub through the formation of her pimples.