Which of the following conditions is most likely to be a polymicrobial infection?

• A. Streptococcal pharyngitis
• B. Diabetic foot ulcer
• C. Gonorrhea
• D. Tuberculosis

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the term 'polymicrobial infection' — it refers to an infection caused by more than one microbial species simultaneously, often involving a mixture of bacteria, fungi, or other microorganisms.
2. Step 2: Analyze each condition to determine if it typically involves a single pathogen or multiple pathogens: Streptococcal pharyngitis is usually caused by a single species, Streptococcus pyogenes.
3. Step 3: Gonorrhea is caused by a single bacterial species, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, so it is generally a monomicrobial infection.
4. Step 4: Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a single pathogen, making it a monomicrobial infection as well.
5. Step 5: Diabetic foot ulcers often involve multiple types of bacteria and sometimes fungi due to the complex wound environment, making them classic examples of polymicrobial infections.