A 50-year-old man presents with fever, night sweats, and weight loss. A biopsy of a lymph node reveals granulomas. Which infectious agent is most likely responsible?
Practice Questions
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Q1
A 50-year-old man presents with fever, night sweats, and weight loss. A biopsy of a lymph node reveals granulomas. Which infectious agent is most likely responsible?
Histoplasma capsulatum
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Coccidioides immitis
Brucella spp.
Granulomas in the lymph nodes are characteristic of tuberculosis, which is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
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Q
Q: A 50-year-old man presents with fever, night sweats, and weight loss. A biopsy of a lymph node reveals granulomas. Which infectious agent is most likely responsible?
Solution: Granulomas in the lymph nodes are characteristic of tuberculosis, which is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Steps: 7
Step 1: A 50-year-old man has symptoms: fever, night sweats, and weight loss.
Step 2: These symptoms can indicate an infection or illness.
Step 3: A biopsy of a lymph node is done to investigate further.
Step 4: The biopsy shows granulomas, which are small clusters of immune cells.
Step 5: Granulomas are often associated with certain infections, particularly tuberculosis.
Step 6: Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Step 7: Therefore, the most likely infectious agent responsible for the man's condition is Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
