Bacterial Infections USMLE Step 1 Practice Question
A 19 year old college freshman is brought to the emergency department with fever, headache, vomiting, and confusion. He is hypotensive and has a diffuse petechial rash. Lumbar puncture is deferred due to instability. Blood cultures later grow oxidase positive gram negative diplococci that ferment maltose. Which of the following complications is most strongly associated with this infection?
Answer choices
- AAplastic crisis in a patient with sickle cell disease
- BAscending paralysis due to demyelination
- CParotitis with orchitis
- DBilateral adrenal hemorrhage leading to shockCorrect answer
- ETemporal lobe hemorrhagic necrosis
- FSubacute bacterial endocarditis with septic emboli to multiple organs
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