Pharmacy PEBC Practice Exam

Which of the following pathogens is most commonly implicated in acute bacterial rhinosinusitis?

1. E. coli

2. S. aureus

3. S. pneumoniae

4. N. meningitidis

The correct answer is: S. pneumoniae

Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis is typically caused by infection from bacteria, but not all bacteria can cause this type of infection. E. coli, although a common pathogen, is not commonly implicated in acute bacterial rhinosinusitis. S. aureus is another common pathogen, but it is more commonly associated with skin infections and less likely to cause rhinosinusitis. N. meningitidis is a pathogen that is known to cause meningitis, but is not typically associated with rhinosinusitis. The most common pathogen implicated in acute bacterial rhinosinusitis is S. pneumoniae, which is responsible for approximately 22-35% of cases. It is important to correctly identify the causative pathogen in order to properly treat the infection.