Question

Your patient is a 29-year-old female German law student who was referred to our outpatient department (OPD) with a two-week history of severe frontal headache and high-grade fever reaching 41Â°C (106Â°F). Upon her first presentation, she reported diarrhea, no bloody discharge with the feces, and abdominal cramps. Multiple blood and stool samples were collected and sent to the laboratory. Laboratory work yields Gram-negative straight bacilli cultured from multiple collected samples of feces, but not from blood samples. The microbe was a Gram-negative bacillus, glucose fermentation positive, lactose fermentation positive. The liver and spleen were normal. She reports recent travel to Mexico for a week-long vacation. Paracetamol had relieved pain and fever for up to eight hours. 1. What is the likely pathogen in this case? 2. How is this pathogen transmitted? 3. Could this infection be a zoonosis? Why?

          Your patient is a 29-year-old female German law student who was referred to our outpatient department (OPD) with a two-week history of severe frontal headache and high-grade fever reaching 41Â°C (106Â°F). Upon her first presentation, she reported diarrhea, no bloody discharge with the feces, and abdominal cramps. Multiple blood and stool samples were collected and sent to the laboratory.

Laboratory work yields Gram-negative straight bacilli cultured from multiple collected samples of feces, but not from blood samples. The microbe was a Gram-negative bacillus, glucose fermentation positive, lactose fermentation positive. The liver and spleen were normal. She reports recent travel to Mexico for a week-long vacation. Paracetamol had relieved pain and fever for up to eight hours.

1. What is the likely pathogen in this case?
2. How is this pathogen transmitted?
3. Could this infection be a zoonosis? Why?

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Added by Mark S.

Biology for AP Courses

Julianne Zedalis, John Eggebrecht

Instant Answer

Solved by Expert Bryan Valdivia

04/12/2023

Step 1

The likely pathogen in this case is a Gram-negative bacillus that is glucose fermentation positive and lactose fermentation positive. Given the patient's recent travel to Mexico and her symptoms, the most likely pathogen is Escherichia coli, specifically Show more…

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Your patient is a 29-year-old female German law student who was referred to our outpatient department (OPD) with a two-week history of severe frontal headache and high-grade fever reaching 41Â°C (106Â°F). Upon her first presentation, she reported diarrhea, no bloody discharge with the feces, and abdominal cramps. Multiple blood and stool samples were collected and sent to the laboratory. Laboratory work yields Gram-negative straight bacilli cultured from multiple collected samples of feces, but not from blood samples. The microbe was a Gram-negative bacillus, glucose fermentation positive, lactose fermentation positive. The liver and spleen were normal. She reports recent travel to Mexico for a week-long vacation. Paracetamol had relieved pain and fever for up to eight hours. 1. What is the likely pathogen in this case? 2. How is this pathogen transmitted? 3. Could this infection be a zoonosis? Why?

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00:01 Okay this question says your patient is a 29 year old female german law student that was referred to our outpatient department with a two -week history of severe frontal headache and a high grade fever reaching 41 41 degrees celsius.

00:16 Upon her first presentation she reported diarrhea, no bloody discharge with laphesis and abdominal cramps.

00:22 Multiple blood and stool samples were collected and sent to the laboratory.

00:26 Laboratory work yields gram negative so we have gram negative a straight bacilli culture from multiple collected samples of feces but not from blood samples.

00:39 The microbe was a was a gram negative bacillus, gram negative bacillus, glucose fermentation a positive it means glucose fermentation positive well actually glucose and lactose fermentation positive okay.

01:05 The liver and spleen were normal.

01:07 She reports recent travel to mexico for a week -long vacation.

01:12 Okay so a trip to mexico.

01:16 Paracetamol highly leave pain and fever for up to eight hours.

01:21 What is the likely pathogen in this case? so based on the given clinical presentation and laboratory findings the likely pathogen causing the patient's symptoms is e.

01:33 Coli.

01:35 E.

01:36 Coli okay well e.

01:39 Coli is a gram negative bacillus that is commonly found in the gut of humans and animals.

01:44 It can cause a range of illnesses from mild gastroenteritis to severe systemic infections.

01:48 The symptoms reported by the patient including severe frontal headache, high grade fever, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and normal liver and spleen are consistent with an e.

01:58 Coli infection.

01:59 The presence of a of glucose and lactose fermentation in the in the culture bacteria also supports a diagnosis.

02:06 Okay as most strains of e...

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