Fusobacterium is best described as what in the context of cat bite abscesses?

Fusobacterium is best described as what in the context of cat bite abscesses?

• A. Anaerobic bacterium
• B. Aerobic bacterium
• C. Fungus
• D. Virus

Answer: (A)

The crucial idea is that cat bite infections often involve anaerobic bacteria because the injured tissue creates low-oxygen pockets where these organisms thrive. Fusobacterium is an obligate anaerobic bacterium commonly found in the oral cavity; it’s a Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod. Those features make it fit squarely as an anaerobic bacterium. It is not aerobic, nor is it a fungus or a virus, so those options don’t apply. In clinical practice, this matters for antibiotic coverage, since therapies that target anaerobes (such as amoxicillin-clavulanate) are needed to effectively treat these bite-related infections.

The crucial idea is that cat bite infections often involve anaerobic bacteria because the injured tissue creates low-oxygen pockets where these organisms thrive. Fusobacterium is an obligate anaerobic bacterium commonly found in the oral cavity; it’s a Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod. Those features make it fit squarely as an anaerobic bacterium. It is not aerobic, nor is it a fungus or a virus, so those options don’t apply. In clinical practice, this matters for antibiotic coverage, since therapies that target anaerobes (such as amoxicillin-clavulanate) are needed to effectively treat these bite-related infections.