10-08-2008, 08:44 PM
A 65 year old man with alcoholic cirrhosis is brought to the emergency department by ambulance after his wife found him incoherent on the floor of their home. Three days ago while visiting Corpus Christi, Texas, the patient stepped on a jagged piece of glass in the ocean and sustained a small laceration on his right foot. Yesterday he noted fever and mild erythema around the laceration.
The patient is delirious. Temperature is 38.3 C (101.0 F). Pulse rate is 120/min, and blood pressure is 7-/50 mmHg. Examination of the right foot reveals severe cellulites extending up the calf with several hemorrhagic bullae.
Which of the following is the most likely infectious agent?
a. Plesiomonas shigelloides
b. Pseudomonas aeroginosa
c. Vibro vulnificus
d. Clostridium perfringes
The patient is delirious. Temperature is 38.3 C (101.0 F). Pulse rate is 120/min, and blood pressure is 7-/50 mmHg. Examination of the right foot reveals severe cellulites extending up the calf with several hemorrhagic bullae.
Which of the following is the most likely infectious agent?
a. Plesiomonas shigelloides
b. Pseudomonas aeroginosa
c. Vibro vulnificus
d. Clostridium perfringes