Bone and joint infections: osteomyelitis after a shoe puncture: practice question

A Orthopaedics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Orthopaedics · Bone and joint infections: osteomyelitis after a shoe puncture

Sample item

A 10-year-old steps on a nail that passes through a rubber-soled sports shoe. Two weeks later she has persistent forefoot pain, swelling and low-grade fever, and an MRI shows osteomyelitis of a metatarsal. Which organism is characteristically associated with this injury?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa lives in the foam and moisture of sports shoes and is the typical organism in osteochondritis and osteomyelitis after a plantar puncture wound. Treatment is surgical debridement with antipseudomonal antibiotics.

Option by option

  • A. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (correct)

    Correct. Pseudomonas is carried through the shoe into the foot by the nail.

  • B. Streptococcus agalactiae

    Group B streptococcus affects neonates and diabetic adults, not puncture wounds in children.

  • C. Eikenella corrodens

    Eikenella corrodens is linked to human bites and clenched-fist injuries.

  • D. Pasteurella multocida

    Pasteurella multocida is linked to animal bites.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Orthopaedics question

What is the answer to this Orthopaedics question?

The best answer is A, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pseudomonas aeruginosa lives in the foam and moisture of sports shoes and is the typical organism in osteochondritis and osteomyelitis after a plantar puncture wound.

Why is "Streptococcus agalactiae" not the answer?

Group B streptococcus affects neonates and diabetic adults, not puncture wounds in children.

Why is "Eikenella corrodens" not the answer?

Eikenella corrodens is linked to human bites and clenched-fist injuries.

Why is "Pasteurella multocida" not the answer?

Pasteurella multocida is linked to animal bites.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bone and joint infections: osteomyelitis after a shoe puncture in Orthopaedics. Treatment is surgical debridement with antipseudomonal antibiotics.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Bone and joint infections: osteomyelitis after a shoe puncture?

Pair each fracture with its classic complication and nerve injured. Then use the flashcards and the other Orthopaedics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.