Your patient has a rash, a fever, and a very high white blood cell count.Blood specimens are taken, put into culture bottles, and sent down to the microbiology lab for incubation and analysis.Select the statement that best reflects why microbial analysis of blood is an important step in patient diagnosis.

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Microbial growth in blood samples may indicate sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition in which the body's response to infection causes inflammation throughout the body. This can lead to organ failure and septic shock, which can be fatal. Identifying the causative microorganism(s) is essential for treating the patient with the appropriate antibiotics and determining the source of the infection. A high white blood cell count is also an indicator of infection, which further supports the need for microbial analysis of the blood.

Your Patient Has a Rash, a Fever, and a Very