Videos
Necrotizing Fasciitis
Fever, chills, nausea, weakness, and general yuckiness. Carlos thought he was getting the flu. Further, he had pulled a cactus thorn from his arm the day before, and the tiny wound had swollen to a centimeter in diameter. It was red, extremely hot, and much more painful than such a puncture had a right to be. Everything was against him. He couldn’t afford to miss days at work, but he had no choice.
He shivered in bed with fever for the next two days and suffered more pain than he had ever experienced, certainly more than the time he broke his leg. Even more than passing a kidney stone. The red, purple, and black inflammation on his arm had grown to the size of a baseball. It was hard to the touch and excruciatingly painful. He decided it was time to call his brother to take him to the doctor. That decision saved his life.
Carlos’s blood pressure dropped severely, and he was unconscious by the time they arrived. The physician immediately admitted Carlos to the hospital, where the medical team raced to treat necrotizing fasciitis, commonly called “flesh-eating” disease. This reemerging disease is caused by group A Streptococcus, a serotype of Gram-positive bacteria also known as Streptococcus pyogenes. Group A strep invades through a break in the skin and travels along the fascia-the protective covering of muscles-producing toxins that destroy human tissues, affecting about 750 people each year in the United States.
By cutting away all the infected tissue; using high-pressure, pure oxygen to inhibit bacterial growth; and applying antimicrobial drugs to kill the bacterium, the doctors stabilized Carlos. After months of skin grafts and rehabilitation, he returned to work, grateful to be alive. (For more about necrotizing fasciitis, see pp.560-561.)
1. What color do cells of S. pyogenes appear after the
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solution
Chapter 4 Solutions
Mastering Microbiology with Pearson eText -- Standalone Access Card -- for Microbiology with Diseases by Body System (5th Edition)
- Viral hepatitis A. Etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations. Methods of laboratory diagnosis. Specific prevention, post-infection, and post-vaccination immunity.arrow_forwardDuring one of the annual physical examinations, a factory worker complains of unilateral bloody discharges from his nose. This is most likely caused by: Allergy, neoplasm, foerign body, head injuryarrow_forwardStory on hemophilia Part I. The family story Olivia, a blond teen, is resoundingly beating her male tennis opponent, Ned. She is new in town and jokes that her partner went easy on her to make her feel welcome. From nowhere, a tennis ball cuts across their court. The dark-eyed brunette who hit it, Diana, stares at them. Olivia seems stunned into silence. Diana sneers at her and says, “Any day now.” Olivia hits the ball back to her, almost directly into her face. “What was that all about? You know Diana Morrison?” Ned asks. “I used to, back when I lived in Granville the first time,” Olivia answers. “Back then we were friends. It was like a million years ago.” As they walk away, we hear Diana’s tennis coach screaming, “Diana, Diana! Somebody help Diana, please!” “Is she OK? What’s happened?” Olivia gasps after running over. Diana has collapsed to the tennis court, not breathing. “She just dropped unexpectedly,” Diana’s…arrow_forward
- 2. Hepatitis B virus. Structure. Antigenic structure.arrow_forwardClinical History:58-year-old African American female had been hemiplegic on the right side for 3 months prior to death. She developed malaise, fever and chills after visiting with her grandchildren. Her infection progressed. She developed dyspnea and expired. Sputum sample, gram stain. Photo includes sputum sample and gram stain. Does the visit with the grandchildren contribute to condition or no? What could have been a likely cause of the infection? What biosafety level is the causative agent? What type of cleaning agent would be effective against the causative agent? If this patient entered the hospital, what precautions would the staff take? no references, just homework Please include referencesarrow_forwardbotulinum toxin and tetanus toxin- how toxic are they, and what affect they have on the body? Thank youarrow_forward
- DISEASE PATHOGEN SYMPTOMS DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT 1. Bacterial Vaginosis 2. Trichomoniasisarrow_forwardSarah passed out during a track meet. Her coach rushed her to the hospital, guessing she had a heat stroke. However, she also had fever and rashes. Medical staffs suspected toxic chock, which was supported by a soaked strong odor tampon removed from her body. List the key factors and the mechanism that cause this life-threatening disease.arrow_forwardDISEASE PATHOGEN SYMPTOMS DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT 1. Candidiasis 2. Bacterial Vaginosis 3. Trichomoniasisarrow_forward
- pathophysiology meningitis vs encephalitis (etiology, clinical manifestations, inflammatory response, etc.)arrow_forwardCoronavirus background and originarrow_forwardClinical History:This 29-year-old male's illness began 10 weeks prior to death, with an episode of "flu". Two weeks later his urine became "smoky". He was found to have hematuria, albuminuria and elevated BUN (180 mg/dl). He died from a pulmonary embolus. Photos include throat photo, blood agar, and grain stain. What specimens should be taken, aside from blood? What tests should be run? Include both a rapid test option and a lower cost test option. What signs and symptoms should have alerted the patient to come in for testing during or after his viral flu episode? What was the most likely cause to the embolus? No references, just homework please include referencesarrow_forward
Human Biology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305112100Author:Cecie Starr, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage Learning
Medical Terminology for Health Professions, Spira...Health & NutritionISBN:9781305634350Author:Ann Ehrlich, Carol L. Schroeder, Laura Ehrlich, Katrina A. SchroederPublisher:Cengage LearningUnderstanding Health Insurance: A Guide to Billin...Health & NutritionISBN:9781337679480Author:GREENPublisher:Cengage