A 10-year-old male gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to his pet guinea pig, which proceeded to bite him on the lip. The guinea pig did not survive. Two days after the guinea pig's funeral, the boy became ill with fever, chills, joint pain, and a rash. What organism should the physician suspect based on the patient's history?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Streptobacillus moniliformis is the organism responsible for rat-bite fever, which can also be transmitted by other rodents, including guinea pigs. The symptoms described, such as fever, chills, joint pain, and rash, are consistent with this infection, which can be contracted through bites or close contact with these animals.

A 10-Year-Old Male Gave Mouth-To-Mouth Resuscitation to His Pet Guinea