A patient is brought to the emergency room with the following symptoms: body temperature of 102° F, low blood pressure, elevated WBC, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. This person has gram-negative rods growing in the blood. What is responsible for these symptoms?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of gram-negative rods in the blood along with symptoms such as low blood pressure, elevated WBC, and disseminated intravascular coagulation indicate sepsis. Gram-negative bacteria produce lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which are also known as endotoxins. These endotoxins can lead to a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), causing the symptoms mentioned in the question.

A Patient Is Brought to the Emergency Room with the Following