A 6-Hour-Old Boy Is Evaluated in the Newborn Nursery Due

question 240

Multiple Choice

A 6-hour-old boy is evaluated in the newborn nursery due to temperature instability, grunting, and lethargy.  The patient was born at full term to a 21-year-old woman who came to the emergency department in active labor with ruptured membranes; she had not received adequate prenatal care.  On physical examination, the boy is hypothermic, tachycardic, and tachypneic, and he has mottled skin.  Blood samples are obtained, and empiric antibiotics are initiated for the treatment of sepsis.  Cultures on blood agar grow bacterial colonies with a narrow zone of clear hemolysis.  When these bacteria are grown in the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, the zone of hemolysis is enhanced around the staphylococcal colonies.  Which of the following is the most likely pathogen infecting this patient?

• A)Escherichia coli
• B)Enterococcus faecalis
• C)Staphylococcus epidermidis
• D)Streptococcus agalactiae
• E)Streptococcus pneumoniae

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Definitions:

Marijuana

A psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant used for medical or recreational purposes, known for its effects on mood, perception, and behavior.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Physical or psychological symptoms that occur after stopping or reducing intake of a substance that was used continuously or in large amounts.

Heavy Drug User

An individual who consumes drugs in large quantities or with great frequency, often leading to dependence or addiction.

Dilated Pupils

A condition where the pupils of the eyes are larger than normal, which can occur due to low light, excitement, or certain medical conditions.