Microbiology Interview Question:

A 30-year old patient is evaluated for chronic diarrhea that has gone on for 4 months with a 20-pound weight loss. By history you find that he has had sex with men for 12 years. You are concerned about the possibility of HIV and his test is positive with a low CD4 count that makes you think of immunodeficiency. You order a test for Cryptosporidium in his stool. Which of the following statements is false regarding Cryptosporidium?

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* A. Most people who have this organism are symptomatic
* B. Person to person transmission is common and it is seen frequently in outbreaks in daycare centers
* C. It is fairly resistant to chlorine treatment in municipal water treatment centers and is a recognized cause of waterborne outbreaks of diarrhea
* D. It is frequently associated with systemic symptoms of fever, chills and bloody diarrhea
* E. It has been difficult to treat in immunocompromised patients and usually persists for the duration of the patient's life

Correct Answer: D
Submitted by: Administrator