A 37-year-old woman with a history of anorectal abscesses complains of pain in the perianal region. Physical examination reveals mild swelling, tenderness, and erythema of the perianal skin. She is prescribed oral ampicillin and asked to return for follow-up. Two days later, the patient presents with a high-grade fever, syncope, and increased swelling. Which of the following would be the most common mechanism of resistance leading to the failure of antibiotic therapy in this patient?
AIntrinsic absence of a target site for the drug
BUse of an altered metabolic pathway
CProduction of beta-lactamase enzyme
DAltered structural target for the drug
EDrug efflux pump
A 31-year-old female with a bacterial infection is prescribed a drug that binds the dipeptide D-Ala-D-Ala. Which of the following drugs was this patient prescribed?
APolymyxin B
BNalidixic acid
CChloramphenicol
DVancomycin
EPenicillin
A 42-year-old man presents with an intermittent low-to-high grade fever, night sweats, weight loss, fatigue, and exercise intolerance. The symptoms have been present for the last 6 months. The patient is a software developer. He smokes one-half pack of cigarettes daily and drinks alcohol occasionally. He denies intravenous drug use. There is no history of cardiovascular, respiratory, or gastrointestinal diseases or malignancies. There is no family history of cancer or cardiovascular diseases. The only condition he reports is a urinary bladder polyp, which was diagnosed and removed endoscopically almost 8 months ago. The patient does not currently take any medications. His blood pressure is 100/80 mm Hg, heart rate is 107/min, respiratory rate is 19/min, and temperature is 38.1°C (100.6°F). The patient is ill-looking and pale. There are several petechial conjunctival hemorrhages and macular lesions on both palms. The cardiac examination reveals heart enlargement to the left side and a holosystolic murmur best heard at the apex of the heart. There is also symmetric edema in both legs up to the knees. Which of the following organisms is most likely to be cultured from the patient’s blood?
APseudomonas aeruginosa
BCandida albicans
CStreptococcus viridans
DStaphylococcus aureus
EEnterococcus faecalis
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