Final answer:
The patient's chronic infections are most likely due to their white blood cells not functioning correctly, causing their immune system to be compromised and increasing susceptibility to infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient gets chronic infections and cannot seem to fight them off without additional antibiotics, the most likely cause of the problem for this patient is that their white blood cells are not functioning correctly. White blood cells are a key component of the immune system and are responsible for fighting off infections. Disorders that affect white blood cells, such as leukopenia (low white blood cell count) or immune deficiencies, can lead to increased susceptibility to infections.
Blood Diseases can also lead to symptoms such as the ones described, including diseases like leukemia, which is a cancer of the blood that can severely impact the body's ability to produce functional white blood cells.
In contrast, issues with red blood cells, platelets, or an iron deficiency typically present with different symptoms, such as fatigue, bruising or bleeding disorders, rather than chronic infections.