WBR0152
| Author | PageAuthor::William J Gibson |
|---|---|
| Exam Type | ExamType::USMLE Step 1 |
| Main Category | MainCategory::Microbiology |
| Sub Category | SubCategory::Musculoskeletal/Rheumatology, SubCategory::General Principles, SubCategory::Infectious Disease |
| Prompt | [[Prompt::A 54-year-old homeless male presents to the Emergency room with back pain, fever, night sweats and anorexia. He reports that these symptoms have lasted approximately two weeks. The patient denies intravenous drug use, but reports heavy alcohol abuse and is sexually active. CT scan reveals a hilar opacity in the lung and lytic destruction of the anterior portion of the T6 vertebral body. Intravenous antibiotics are administered. Which of the following is the most likely causal organism?]] |
| Answer A | AnswerA::Pseudomonas aeruginosa |
| Answer A Explanation | [[AnswerAExp::Psuedomonas aeruginosa may cause osteomyelitis and should be suspected in an intravenous drug user. However, the hilar opacity implicates tuberculosis infection more strongly. The presentation of this patient is more consistent with Pott's disease.]] |
| Answer B | AnswerB::Salmonella typhi |
| Answer B Explanation | [[AnswerBExp::Salmonella is a common cause of osteomyelitis in indiviuals with sickle cell anemia.]] |
| Answer C | AnswerC::Mycobacterium tuberculosis |
| Answer C Explanation | AnswerCExp::See explanation. |
| Answer D | AnswerD::Staphylococcus aureus |
| Answer D Explanation | [[AnswerDExp::While Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of osteomyelitis overall, it is not responsible for Pott’s disease.]] |
| Answer E | AnswerE::Neisseria gonorrhea |
| Answer E Explanation | AnswerEExp::''N. gonnorrhea'' uncommonly causes osteomyelitis. When it does, it is a subacute illness with minimal systemic symptoms |
| Right Answer | RightAnswer::C |
| Explanation | [[Explanation::The patient in this vignette is suffering from Pott’s disease, a vertebral infection of the spine caused by extrapulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Homelessness is a risk factor for TB and the lung lesion should raise your suspicion for any other complications of TB. The patient has positive radiographic findings for a caseating spinal lesion. Educational Objective: Suspect tuberculosis infection in a homeless patient with a lung lesion and spinal disease. |
| Approved | Approved::Yes |
| Keyword | WBRKeyword::Tuberculosis, WBRKeyword::Mycobacterium tuberculosis, WBRKeyword::Microbiology, WBRKeyword::Bacteria |
| Linked Question | Linked:: |
| Order in Linked Questions | LinkedOrder:: |