CASE HISTORY Frank,a 45-Year-Old Man,visited the Hospital with Respiratory Distress and a and a High

CASE HISTORY
Frank,a 45-year-old man,visited the hospital with respiratory distress and a high fever.Frank had diabetes mellitus and had smoked for 25 years.His white blood cell count was 24,000/ml and his c-reactive protein was 24 mg/ml,both signs that his immune system was fighting an infection.His chest X-ray showed an abnormal shadow,and his chest computed tomography (CT scan) showed thickened bronchial walls.He was coughing up black sputum.The physician prescribed an antibiotic,cefotiam hydrochloride,but Frank's condition worsened.By the tenth day,he was producing 100 ml of sputum a day,and the CT scan of his lung showed multiple lesions (clouded regions) .Since antibacterial antibiotics had failed,Frank was tested for fungi.A culture of his sputum and PCR amplification of fungal DNA revealed the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus.Frank was treated with the antifungal agents itraconazole,meropenem trihydrate,and amphotericin b,but he died on the 25th day.
What is the most likely cause of Frank's deterioration following the use of an antibiotic agent?

A) Frank was allergic to the antibiotic used.
B) The infection would have progressed at the same rate regardless of the use of this antibiotic.
C) Killing of the fungal cells causing the infection induced a severe immune response.
D) Frank acquired a secondary bacterial infection.