A 72-year-old female presents to the emergency department complaining of severe abdominal pain and several days of bloody diarrhea. Her symptoms began with intermittent bloody diarrhea five days ago and have worsened steadily. For the last 24 hours, she has complained of fevers, chills, and abdominal pain. She has a history of ulcerative colitis, idiopathic hypertension, and hypothyroidism. Her medications include hydrochlorothiazide, levothyroxine, and sulfasalazine. In the ED, her temperature is 39.1°C (102.4°F), pulse is 120/min, blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg, and respirations are 20/min. On exam, the patient is alert and oriented to person and place, but does not know the day. Her mucus membranes are dry. Heart and lung exam are not revealing. Her abdomen is distended with marked rebound tenderness. Bowel sounds are hyperactive. Serum: Na+: 142 mEq/L Cl-: 107 mEq/L K+: 3.3 mEq/L HCO3-: 20 mEq/L BUN: 15 mg/dL Glucose: 92 mg/dL Creatinine: 1.2 mg/dL Calcium: 10.1 mg/dL Hemoglobin: 11.2 g/dL Hematocrit: 30% Leukocyte count: 14,600/mm^3 with normal differential Platelet count: 405,000/mm^3 What is the next best step in management?
AEmergent colonoscopy
BContrast enema
CColectomy
DPlain abdominal radiograph
EAbdominal CT with IV contrast
A 17-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with abdominal and pelvic pain. She states it started 3 days ago and it has been getting gradually worse. She states it is diffuse and is located over her abdomen, pelvis, and inside her vagina. She also endorses vaginal pruritus and a discharge from her vagina. The patient works in an ice cream parlor and is sexually active with multiple different partners. Her temperature is 98.0°F (36.7°C), blood pressure is 122/80 mmHg, pulse is 82/min, respirations are 15/min, and oxygen saturation is 98% on room air. Physical exam is notable for a foul smelling vagina with a thin, white discharge. Her abdomen is diffusely tender. The patient is noted to be itching her vagina during the exam. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial step in management?
AWet mount
BKOH prep
CUrine hCG
DCT abdomen/pelvis
ECervical swab and culture
A 49-year-old woman presents to her physician with a fever accompanied by chills and burning micturition since the past 5 days. She is an otherwise healthy woman with no significant past medical history and has an active sexual life. On physical examination, her temperature is 39.4°C (103.0°F), pulse rate is 90/min, blood pressure is 122/80 mm Hg, and respiratory rate is 14/min. Examination of the abdomen and genitourinary region do not reveal any specific positive findings. The physician orders a urinalysis of fresh unspun urine for this patient which shows 25 WBCs/mL of urine. The physician prescribes an empirical antibiotic and other medications for symptom relief. He also orders a bacteriological culture of her urine. After 48 hours of treatment, the woman returns to the physician to report that her symptoms have not improved. The bacteriological culture report indicates the growth of gram-negative bacilli which are lactose-negative and indole-negative, which produce a substance that hydrolyzes urea to produce ammonia. Which of the following bacteria is the most likely cause of infection in the woman?
AEnterobacter cloacae
BKlebsiella pneumoniae
CEscherichia coli
DProteus mirabilis
ECitrobacter freundii
+ 7 more in the PDF
Browse all chapters