An 18-Month-Old Boy Is Evaluated for Recurrent Infections

question 93

Multiple Choice

An 18-month-old boy is evaluated for recurrent infections.  He has been hospitalized 3 times with pneumonia since age 3 months.  He has also had multiple skin infections requiring treatment with antibacterial and antifungal agents.  During his last episode of pneumonia, he developed a large pleural effusion, which was drained.  The pleural fluid revealed numerous neutrophils containing a large number of intact gram-positive cocci.  The microorganisms responsible for this patient's recurrent infections most likely produce which of the following virulence factors?

• A)Catalase
• B)Coagulase
• C)Lecithinase
• D)Lipopolysaccharide
• E)Polysaccharide capsule

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