A 34-year-old man comes to the physician because of fatigue and shortness of breath with moderate exertion for the past 2 months. Over the past 10 days, he has had low-grade fevers and night sweats. He has no history of serious illness except for a bicuspid aortic valve diagnosed 5 years ago. He has smoked one pack of cigarettes daily for 10 years and drinks 3–5 beers on social occasions. He does not use illicit drugs. The patient takes no medications. He appears weak. His temperature is 37.7°C (99.9°F), pulse is 70/min, and blood pressure is 128/64 mm Hg. The lungs are clear to auscultation. A grade 2/6 systolic murmur is heard best at the right sternal border and second intercostal space. There are several hemorrhages underneath his fingernails on both hands and multiple tender, red nodules on his fingers. Which of the following is the most likely causal organism?
ACandida albicans
BStreptococcus sanguinis
CStreptococcus pneumoniae
DStaphylococcus epidermidis
A 37-year-old man with a history of IV drug use presents to the ED with complaints of fevers, chills, and malaise for one week. He admits to recently using IV and intramuscular heroin. Vital signs are as follows: T 40.0 C, HR 120 bpm, BP 110/68 mmHg, RR 14, O2Sat 98%. Examination reveals a new systolic murmur that is loudest at the lower left sternal border. Initial management includes administration of which of the following regimens?
AIV Vancomycin, IV ceftriaxone, IV fluconazole
BIV Vancomycin, IV ceftriaxone
CIV Vancomycin, IV levofloxacin
DIV Vancomycin
EIV Vancomycin, IV gentamicin, PO rifampin
Part of the success of the Streptococcus pyogenes bacterium lies in its ability to evade phagocytosis. Which of the following helps in this evasion?
AStreptolysin S
BStreptolysin O
CStreptokinase
DM protein
EPyrogenic toxin
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