This 71 year old woman was admitted with a recurrence of her poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. She underwent extensive gynecologic surgery (excision of the organs of the anterior of the anterior pelvis) and was maintained postoperatively on broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics. the patient had a central venous catheter placed on the day of the surgery. Beggining 3 days postoperatively, the patient had tempertures of 38.0 - 38.5 degrees celcius, which persisted without a clear source. On day 8 postoperatively, she had a temperture of 39.2 degree celcius. Cultures of blood and of the tip of the central line both grew an agent that was ovoid and reproduced by budding. 1. What is the differential diagnosis of this patients infecting organism? 2. The organism was subsequently shown to form germ tubes. What is the organism? 3. Is this organism part of the normal flora in humans? 4. How did treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics predispose this patient to infection with this organism? 5. The same organism was present in a positive culture of blood and in a culture of the central venous catheter tip. What does this suggest in terms of portal of entry of the organism causing the infection?
Added by Peggy P.
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The differential diagnosis of this patient's infecting organism includes: **Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida krusei**. Show more…
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