Question

One morning, Travis placed a thumbtack on the chair of the office manager where he worked. He had no quarrel with the office manager, but thought this would be funny. Two days after sitting on the tack, the office manager was hospitalized with an infection caused by the tack. Which of the following is correct?

a) The infection was coincidental and unrelated to the thumbtack.
b) The thumbtack introduced pathogenic microorganisms, causing infection.
c) The office manager had a pre-existing infection before sitting on the thumbtack.
d) The infection was caused by an allergic reaction to the thumbtack.

Answer 1

The thumbtack placed on the chair likely introduced pathogenic microorganisms causing an infection, similar to how medical injuries can lead to opportunistic infections. This relates to the concept of focal infections and contrasts with iatrogenic diseases which result from medical procedures. The correct option is b).

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the scenario that an office manager was hospitalized with an infection two days after sitting on a thumbtack, the most likely explanation is that the thumbtack introduced pathogenic microorganisms, causing infection. This scenario mirrors the concept of a focal infection, where an initial point of entry, such as a puncture wound from a thumbtack, allows bacteria to enter and potentially cause an infection. In the medical field, injuries or damage to the skin are known pathways for microbes to bypass the physical barriers and lead to infections. Such events are examples of how opportunistic pathogens can infiltrate deeper tissue or the bloodstream and establish infections.

Comparatively, in the example of a patient developing bacterial endocarditis after oral surgery, this condition would be classified as an iatrogenic disease, caused by an incident during a medical procedure. Conversely, nosocomial diseases are those acquired specifically in hospital settings, often facilitated by factors like weakened immune systems, the presence of pathogens, and the potential for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The correct option is b).