Which is a serious contagious bacterial infection that usually affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat?

Question

Accepted Answer

Step-by-step explanation:

- Read each option and recall the typical disease presentation.
- Meningococcal: caused by Neisseria meningitidis; primarily causes meningitis and septicemia (affects the meninges), not specifically the nose/throat mucosa.
- Diphtheria: caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae; a serious, contagious bacterial infection that usually affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat — this matches the question exactly.
- Shigellosis: caused by Shigella species; causes intestinal infection (dysentery), not mucous membranes of nose/throat.
- Chlamydia: usually refers to Chlamydia trachomatis, a bacterial STI affecting urogenital mucosa (some species cause eye infections), not typically the nose/throat as described.

Therefore the correct choice is option (2), i.e., b.

FINAL_ANSWER: b

Answer

Answer

Answer