Infectious diseases (sepsis, endocarditis) Practice Questions

Question 1

A 51-year-old woman is brought into the emergency department following a motor vehicle accident. She is unconscious and was intubated in the field. Past medical history is unknown. Upon arrival, she is hypotensive and tachycardic. Her temperature is 37.2°C (99.1°F), the pulse is 110/min, the respiratory rate is 22/min, and the blood pressure is 85/60 mm Hg. There is no evidence of head trauma, she withdraws to pain and her pupils are 2mm and reactive to light. Her heart has a regular rhythm without any murmurs or rubs and her lungs are clear to auscultation. Her abdomen is firm and distended with decreased bowel sounds. Her extremities are cool and clammy with weak, thready pulses. There is no peripheral edema. Of the following, what is the likely cause of her presentation?

Accepted Answer

Hypovolemic shock

Answer

Septic shock

Answer

Neurogenic shock

Answer

Obstructive shock

Answer

Cardiogenic shock

Question 2

A 50-year-old man with a history of stage 4 kidney disease was admitted to the hospital for an elective hemicolectomy. His past medical history is significant for severe diverticulitis. After the procedure he becomes septic and was placed on broad spectrum antibiotics. On morning rounds, he appear weak and complains of fatigue and nausea. His words are soft and he has difficulty answering questions. His temperature is 38.9°C (102.1°F), heart rate is 110/min, respiratory rate is 15/min, blood pressure 90/65 mm Hg, and saturation is 89% on room air. On physical exam, his mental status appears altered. He has a bruise on his left arm that spontaneously appeared overnight. His cardiac exam is positive for a weak friction rub. Blood specimens are collected and sent for evaluation. An ECG is performed (see image). What therapy will this patient most likely receive next?

Accepted Answer

Send the patient for hemodialysis

Answer

Perform a STAT pericardiocentesis

Answer

Prepare the patient for renal transplant

Answer

Treat the patient with aspirin

Answer

Treat the patient with cyclophosphamide and prednisone

Question 3

Blood cultures are sent to the laboratory and empiric treatment with intravenous vancomycin is started. Blood cultures grow gram-negative bacilli identified as Cardiobacterium hominis. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

Accepted Answer

Switch to intravenous ceftriaxone

Answer

Switch to intravenous gentamicin

Answer

Switch to intravenous ampicillin

Answer

Switch to intravenous cefazolin

Answer

Add intravenous rifampin

Question 4

Three days after admission to the hospital following a motor vehicle accident, a 45-year-old woman develops a fever. A central venous catheter was placed on the day of admission for treatment of severe hypotension. Her temperature is 39.2°C (102.5°F). Examination shows erythema surrounding the catheter insertion site at the right internal jugular vein. Blood cultures show gram-positive, catalase-positive cocci that have a high minimum inhibitory concentration when exposed to novobiocin. Which of the following is the most appropriate pharmacotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Vancomycin

Answer

Clarithromycin

Answer

Metronidazole

Answer

Penicillin G

Answer

Polymyxin B

Question 5

A 46-year-old male was found unconscious in the field and brought to the emergency department by EMS. The patient was intubated in transit and given a 2 liter bolus of normal saline. On arrival, the patient's blood pressure is 80/60 mmHg and temperature is 37.5°C. Jugular veins are flat and capillary refill time is 4 seconds.

Vascular parameters are measured and are as follows:
Cardiac index - Low
Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) - Low
Systemic vascular resistance - High

Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Hypovolemic shock

Answer

Septic shock

Answer

Anaphylactic shock

Answer

Cardiogenic shock

Answer

Neurogenic shock

Question 6

A 65-year-old man presents with low-grade fever and malaise for the last 4 months. He also says he has lost 9 kg (20 lb) during this period and suffers from extreme fatigue. Past medical history is significant for a mitral valve replacement 5 years ago. His temperature is 38.1°C (100.6°F), respirations are 22/min, pulse is 102/min, and blood pressure is 138/78 mm Hg. On physical examination, there is a new onset 2/6 holosystolic murmur loudest in the apical area of the precordium. Which of the following organisms is the most likely cause of this patient’s condition?

Accepted Answer

Enterococcus

Answer

Candida albicans

Answer

Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp.

Answer

Escherichia coli

Answer

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Question 7

A 28-year-old male presents to his primary care physician with complaints of intermittent abdominal pain and alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea. His medical chart is not significant for any past medical problems or prior surgeries. He is not prescribed any current medications. Which of the following questions would be the most useful next question in eliciting further history from this patient?

Accepted Answer

"Can you tell me more about the symptoms you have been experiencing?"

Answer

"Does the diarrhea typically precede the constipation, or vice-versa?"

Answer

"Is the diarrhea foul-smelling?"

Answer

"Please rate your abdominal pain on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the worst pain of your life"

Answer

"Are the symptoms worse in the morning or at night?"

Question 8

Five days after admission into the ICU for drug-induced acute kidney injury, a 27-year-old woman develops fever. She is currently on a ventilator and sedatives. Hemodialysis is performed via a catheter placed in the right internal jugular vein. Feeding is via a nasogastric tube. An indwelling urinary catheter shows minimum output. Her blood pressure is 85/45 mm Hg, the pulse is 112/min, the respirations are 32/min, and the temperature is 39.6°C (103.3°F). The examination of the central catheter shows erythema around the insertion site with no discharge. Lung auscultation shows rhonchi. Cardiac examination shows no new findings. A chest CT scan shows bilateral pleural effusions with no lung infiltration. Empirical antibiotic therapy is initiated. Blood cultures obtained from peripheral blood and the catheter tip show S. aureus with a similar antibiogram. Urinary culture obtained from the indwelling catheter shows polymicrobial growth. Which of the following best explains this patient’s recent findings?

Accepted Answer

Central catheter-related bacteremia

Answer

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection

Answer

Endocarditis

Answer

Ventilator-associated pneumonia

Answer

Naso-gastric tube sinusitis

Question 9

A 65-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a fever and weakness. He states his symptoms started yesterday and have been gradually worsening. The patient has a past medical history of obesity, diabetes, alcohol abuse, as well as a 30 pack-year smoking history. He lives in a nursing home and has presented multiple times in the past for ulcers and delirium. His temperature is 103°F (39.4°C), blood pressure is 122/88 mmHg, pulse is 129/min, respirations are 24/min, and oxygen saturation is 99% on room air. Physical exam is notable for a murmur. The patient is started on vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam and is admitted to the medicine floor. During his hospital stay, blood cultures grow Streptococcus bovis and his antibiotics are appropriately altered. A transesophageal echocardiograph is within normal limits. The patient’s fever decreases and his symptoms improve. Which of the following is also necessary in this patient?

Accepted Answer

Colonoscopy

Answer

Addiction medicine referral

Answer

Social work consult for elder abuse

Answer

Repeat blood cultures for contamination concern

Answer

Replace the patient’s central line and repeat echocardiography

Question 10

A 71-year-old man presents to the emergency department with severe substernal chest pain. An initial EKG demonstrates ST elevation in leads V2, V3, V4, and V5 with reciprocal changes. The patient is started on aspirin and heparin and is transferred to the cardiac catheterization lab. The patient recovers over the next several days. On the floor, the patient complains of feeling very fatigued and feels too weak to ambulate even with the assistance of physical therapy. Chest radiography reveals an enlarged cardiac silhouette with signs of fluid bilaterally in the lung bases. His temperature is 98.4°F (36.9°C), blood pressure is 85/50 mmHg, pulse is 110/min, respirations are 13/min, and oxygen saturation is 97% on room air. Which of the following would be expected to be seen in this patient?

Accepted Answer

Increased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure

Answer

Decreased systemic vascular resistance

Answer

Increased venous oxygen content

Answer

Increased ejection fraction

Answer

Decreased tissue oxygen extraction

Infectious diseases (sepsis, endocarditis)

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Sepsis and septic shock

Infective endocarditis

Pneumonia (community-acquired, hospital-acquired)

Urinary tract infections

Skin and soft tissue infections

Central nervous system infections

Intra-abdominal infections

Sexually transmitted infections

HIV/AIDS

Tuberculosis

Opportunistic infections

Fever of unknown origin

Antimicrobial stewardship

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About Infectious diseases (sepsis, endocarditis) for USMLE

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