Question

70 yr old man is hospitalized due to abrupt onset, severe left thigh pain with no preceding trauma. Temp is 38.9, BP is 90/60, pulse is 120. Left thigh exam shows diffuse swelling with dusky skin discoloration and several bullae filled with hemorrhagic fluid. There is significant tenderness and crepitus on palpation. Gram stain of the bullae reveals numerous gram-positive rods, and culture grows Clostridium septicum. Greatest risk factor?

Answer 1

The greatest risk factor for the 70-year-old man with severe left thigh pain and Clostridium septicum infection is the presence of underlying disease.

Step-by-step explanation:

The greatest risk factor for the 70-year-old man with severe left thigh pain and Clostridium septicum infection is the presence of underlying disease. The article states that patients with underlying disease have a high fatality rate of about 50%. Individuals with chronic liver disease or who are immunodeficient are particularly at risk for developing a severe infection.