Airway: bacterial tracheitis: practice question

A ENT 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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ENT · Airway: bacterial tracheitis

Sample item

A child with croup-like illness fails to improve and develops high fever, toxic appearance and thick purulent tracheal secretions. Which organism is the commonest cause?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Staphylococcus aureus

Bacterial tracheitis is a secondary bacterial infection of the trachea, most often with Staphylococcus aureus, producing thick membranes that need bronchoscopic clearance, intubation and IV antibiotics.

Option by option

  • A. Parainfluenza virus

    Parainfluenza virus causes uncomplicated croup.

  • B. Staphylococcus aureus (correct)

    Correct. S. aureus is the commonest cause.

  • C. Corynebacterium diphtheriae

    Diphtheria causes a membranous pharyngitis.

  • D. Haemophilus influenzae type b

    Hib causes epiglottitis.

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 ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is B, Staphylococcus aureus. Bacterial tracheitis is a secondary bacterial infection of the trachea, most often with Staphylococcus aureus, producing thick membranes that need bronchoscopic clearance, intubation and IV antibiotics.

Why is "Parainfluenza virus" not the answer?

Parainfluenza virus causes uncomplicated croup.

Why is "Corynebacterium diphtheriae" not the answer?

Diphtheria causes a membranous pharyngitis.

Why is "Haemophilus influenzae type b" not the answer?

Hib causes epiglottitis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway: bacterial tracheitis in ENT. The correct option holds because: Correct. S. aureus is the commonest cause.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Airway: bacterial tracheitis?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT 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.