Which organism is a member of the HACEK group and is described as having a bleach-like odor and the ability to pit agar?

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Multiple Choice

Which organism is a member of the HACEK group and is described as having a bleach-like odor and the ability to pit agar?

The key clue is a distinctive combination of a bleach-like odor and the ability to pit the growth medium. Eikenella corrodens, a member of the HACEK group, is well known for producing a bleach-like smell and for corroding or pittting agar as it grows. These features help distinguish it from other HACEK organisms, which don’t share this odor or the agar-pitting behavior. Clinically, Eikenella is part of the normal oral flora and can be involved in endocarditis or bite-related infections, and its culture is often slow and requires careful, sometimes enriched, media.

The key clue is a distinctive combination of a bleach-like odor and the ability to pit the growth medium. Eikenella corrodens, a member of the HACEK group, is well known for producing a bleach-like smell and for corroding or pittting agar as it grows. These features help distinguish it from other HACEK organisms, which don’t share this odor or the agar-pitting behavior. Clinically, Eikenella is part of the normal oral flora and can be involved in endocarditis or bite-related infections, and its culture is often slow and requires careful, sometimes enriched, media.

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