Case 1
A 22-year old female automotive technician presents herself at the doctor’s
office. She complains of fever and of pain in her left hand.
On physical examination, the patient had a deep wound on her left palm that was
oozing pus. She had purplish, red streaks running up her left arm. She had
enlarged lymph nodes at the elbow and under her arm. The patient’s skin was
warm and dry.
ln her history, the patient had punctured her left palm with sharp metal from the
undercarriage of a “real cherry” 1977 Malibu about a week earlier. She said the
wound had bled for a few minutes and she thought that she had washed it “real
good” with soap and water. She had covered the wound with a large “Band-Aid”
and gone back to work. She developed a fever about three days later. For the
past couple of days, she “did not feel so good” and had vomiting and diarrhea.
1. What type of infection do you believe she has in this hand?
2. From complaint and physical examination, which of the symptoms lead
you to your choice of agent?
3. From the history, which of the information confirmed your choice?
4. Which of the following is most likely to follow this infection?
