A 40-year-old man comes to the physician because of fever, cough productive of foul-smelling sputum and increasing shortness of breath. He was hospitalized for alcohol intoxication twice over the past 6 months. He has smoked one pack of cigarettes daily for 20 years and drinks 6 alcoholic beverages daily. He appears malnourished. Temperature is 39 C (102.2 F), blood pressure is 114/62 mm Hg, and pulse is 116/min. Physical examination reveals crackles in the right lower lung. Repeat chest x-ray reveals a round density with an air-fluid level in the lower lobe of the right lung. Which of the following is the most important contributor to the observed lung lesion in this patient?

Question

A 40-year-old man comes to the physician because of fever, cough productive of foul-smelling sputum and increasing shortness of breath. He was hospitalized for alcohol intoxication twice over the past 6 months. He has smoked one pack of cigarettes daily for 20 years and drinks 6 alcoholic beverages daily. He appears malnourished. Temperature is 39 C (102.2 F), blood pressure is 114/62 mm Hg, and pulse is 116/min.  Physical examination reveals crackles in the right lower lung.  Repeat chest x-ray reveals a round density with an air-fluid level in the lower lobe of the right lung.  Which of the following is the most important contributor to the observed lung lesion in this patient?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Abscess formation is largely driven by neutrophil recruitment and activation leading to the release of cytotoxic granules that kill bacteria but also cause liquefying necrosis of surrounding tissue.

A 40-Year-Old Man Comes to the Physician Because of Fever