Bacterial infections: hot tub folliculitis: practice question

A Dermatology question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Dermatology · Bacterial infections: hot tub folliculitis

Sample item

Two days after using a poorly chlorinated hot tub, a young man develops itchy follicular papulopustules on the trunk and buttocks, sparing the face. Which organism is responsible?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa thrives in warm, inadequately chlorinated water and causes a self-limited folliculitis in areas covered by the swimsuit. It usually resolves in 1 to 2 weeks without treatment.

Option by option

  • A. Malassezia furfur

    Malassezia causes pityrosporum folliculitis but not after hot tub exposure with this timeline.

  • B. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (correct)

    Correct. Water-borne Pseudomonas is the classic cause.

  • C. Trichophyton rubrum

    T. rubrum is a dermatophyte that causes scaly patches, not an acute pustular eruption.

  • D. Staphylococcus epidermidis

    S. epidermidis is a commensal and rarely causes follicular pustules.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Dermatology questions

Questions about this Dermatology question

What is the answer to this Dermatology question?

The best answer is B, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pseudomonas aeruginosa thrives in warm, inadequately chlorinated water and causes a self-limited folliculitis in areas covered by the swimsuit.

Why is "Malassezia furfur" not the answer?

Malassezia causes pityrosporum folliculitis but not after hot tub exposure with this timeline.

Why is "Trichophyton rubrum" not the answer?

T. rubrum is a dermatophyte that causes scaly patches, not an acute pustular eruption.

Why is "Staphylococcus epidermidis" not the answer?

S. epidermidis is a commensal and rarely causes follicular pustules.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bacterial infections: hot tub folliculitis in Dermatology. It usually resolves in 1 to 2 weeks without treatment.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Bacterial infections: hot tub folliculitis?

Learn each condition by its primary lesion, site and signature sign. Then use the flashcards and the other Dermatology questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.