Question

List three often fatal complications of pneumococcal infections after bacteria have entered the bloodstream?

Answer 1

Fatal complications of pneumococcal infections include septic shock, which can cause multiple organ failure; disseminated intravascular coagulation, leading to blood clots and tissue death; and pneumococcal pneumonia, which can result in respiratory failure.

Step-by-step explanation:

Three often fatal complications of pneumococcal infections after the bacteria have entered the bloodstream are:

1. Septic Shock: This occurs when an overwhelming immune response to infection leads to dangerously low blood pressure, intravascular blood clotting, and multiple organ failure, which can be rapidly fatal.
2. Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) is characterized by the widespread formation of blood clots throughout the bloodstream, which can block blood vessels and lead to tissue death, organ dysfunction, and potentially fatal complications.
3. Pneumococcal Pneumonia: The infection's spread to the alveoli can lead to the accumulation of inflammatory cells and fluid, causing severe respiratory issues and potentially progressing to fatal respiratory failure.