A 54-year-old male comes in to see his primary care manager coughing and heavily sweating. The nurse takes his initial temperature, noticing and recording he has a fever of 102.3°F. He complains to his physician of shortness of breath, chest discomfort, lethargy, and persistent coughing. The physician asks if he’s been around anyone sick, and the man responds that his wife and kids have been around him for a few days and haven’t picked up any kind of sickness which was odd to him. The physician collects a sputum sample, nasal swab, and EDTA tube; ordering the following lab work associated with the collected samples.
Respiratory Panel (PCR)
SARS-CoV-2
Not detected
Flu A
Not detected
Flu B
Not detected
RSV
Not detected
Infectious Mononucleosis (Rapid Antigen)
IM: Negative
Sputum Culture:
Sputum Assessment: (Usable per local guidelines)
>25 WBC p/LPF
>25 EPI p/LPF
Many GPC
Few GPR
Rare GN Diplococci
Culture grew:
BAP:
Isolate 1: Heavy growth small alpha hemolytic (GPC)
Biochemicals: Catalase negative, Lancefield Latex Grouping negative
Isolate 2: Moderate Growth flat, ground glass gamma hemolytic (Boxcar GPR)
Biochemicals: Catalase positive, Motility: negative
MAC: No growth
Chocolate:
Isolate 1: Heavy growth small alpha hemolytic (GPC)
Isolate 2: Light Growth small tan (GNC)