What group of pathogens requires other living cells for growth but uses oxygen and is susceptible to antibiotics?

Prepare for the Canadian Red Cross Emergency Medical Responder Exam. Study with multiple choice questions, each offering hints and explanations to enhance understanding. Achieve exam success!

Rickettsia are a group of microorganisms that are classified as obligate intracellular parasites, meaning they cannot reproduce outside of living host cells. This dependency on living cells for growth is a key characteristic that distinguishes them from other pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Rickettsia utilize oxygen for their metabolic processes and can be susceptible to certain antibiotics, making them unique among pathogens that share characteristics with different groups. For example, while typical bacteria can be treated with a broader range of antibiotics and have varied oxygen requirements, Rickettsia have a more specialized niche due to their reliance on host cells.

Viruses, on the other hand, do not use oxygen and are not susceptible to antibiotics because they lack the cellular structure that antibiotics target. Fungi are generally eukaryotic organisms and do not fit the description of an obligate intracellular parasite reliant on host cells in the same manner as Rickettsia. Thus, identifying Rickettsia as the answer accurately reflects their unique growth requirements, metabolic needs, and susceptibility to treatment.

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