Which statement is accurate regarding the organism C. burnetii?

Which statement is accurate regarding the organism C. burnetii?

• A. It is an obligate extracellular bacterium
• B. It is a virus
• C. It is a facultative intracellular coccobacillus
• D. It is a Gram-positive diplococcus

Answer: (C)

Coxiella burnetii is best understood as a bacterium that can live both outside and inside host cells. It exists in two forms: a environmentally stable small cell variant that can survive outside cells, and a larger, replicating form inside host cells, typically within acidic phagolysosomes. This dual lifestyle makes it a facultative intracellular coccobacillus. It is not an extracellular-only organism, not a virus, and not a Gram-positive diplococcus.

Coxiella burnetii is best understood as a bacterium that can live both outside and inside host cells. It exists in two forms: a environmentally stable small cell variant that can survive outside cells, and a larger, replicating form inside host cells, typically within acidic phagolysosomes. This dual lifestyle makes it a facultative intracellular coccobacillus. It is not an extracellular-only organism, not a virus, and not a Gram-positive diplococcus.