A 26 year-old seasonal worker from South America came to the ER with a history of a dry, hacking blood-tinged cough, fever, chills, and loss of appetite. The chest x-ray showed cavitary lesion in the right upper lobe. After a week in the hospital, the sputum culture shows the present of acid-fast stained organisms. Which of the following medications would you recommend for this patient at this time?
1) Ceftizoxime
2) Isoniazid
3) Rifampin
4) Ethambutol

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of acid-fast stained organisms in the sputum culture, along with the clinical presentation and chest x-ray findings, is highly suggestive of tuberculosis. The recommended initial treatment for tuberculosis includes a combination of isoniazid, rifampin, and ethambutol. Ceftizoxime, a cephalosporin antibiotic, is not used in the treatment of tuberculosis.

A 26 Year-Old Seasonal Worker from South America Came to the ER