A 59-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department with fever, skin flushing, and an altered level of consciousness. Her blood pressure is 50/20 mmHg, and her heart rate is 120/min despite receiving IV fluids. If blood cultures are positive for E. coli, which of the following bacterial factors is most directly responsible for this patient's current condition?

Question

A 59-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department with fever, skin flushing, and an altered level of consciousness.  Her blood pressure is 50/20 mmHg, and her heart rate is 120/min despite receiving IV fluids.  If blood cultures are positive for E. coli, which of the following bacterial factors is most directly responsible for this patient's current condition?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Gram-negative sepsis is caused by the release of lipopolysaccharides from bacterial cells during cell division or bacteriolysis.  Lipid A is the toxic component of lipopolysaccharides and induces the widespread release of IL-1 and TNF-alpha from activated macrophages.  These cytokines cause the signs and symptoms of septic shock (eg, fever, hypotension, organ dysfunction).

A 59-Year-Old Woman Is Brought to the Emergency Department with Fever