If a Symptomatic Patient Presents to a Physician with an Infection

question 24

Multiple Choice

If a symptomatic patient presents to a physician with an infection, the physician will treat the patient with antibiotics. What role does the laboratory play in antibiotic selection if the physician has already treated the patient before receiving the culture results?

• A) The physician has only given the patient antibiotic samples, and they will only last for a couple days-until the culture results are ready and a proper prescription can be written.
• B) Physicians will only write antibiotic prescriptions for patients who are infected with a large number of bacteria, so the laboratory needs to tell the physician which antibiotic to use to treat the patient infected with a small number of bacteria.
• C) The physician can treat the patient for bacterial infections, but if the patient has a fungal infection, the physician relies on the laboratory to tell her or him if the patient has a fungal infection.
• D) The physician expects the laboratory to affirm or reject the antibiotic choice made after the presumptive diagnosis.

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Definitions:

Prejudice

An unjustified negative attitude toward an individual because of her or his membership in a group.

Adolescent

Refers to the period of development from puberty to adulthood, typically involving growth spurts, hormonal changes, and psychological adjustments.

Unjustified Negative Attitude

An unfair or baseless negative outlook or bias held against someone or something without sufficient reason.

Discrimination

Unfair treatment of individuals based on their race, age, gender, or other attributes, rather than on individual merit.