Question 27

(Multiple Choice)

A young man who works on a ranch and lives in the log bunkhouse experiences sudden fever with muscle aches. A few days later he begins to cough and have difficulty breathing, and goes to an urgent care clinic. His blood pressure is low. A blood sample reveals a low platelet count. A Gram stain of a sputum sample shows only a few small bacteria present. Which of the following is the most likely infecting agent?


A) Bacillus anthracis
B) Hantavirus
C) Histoplasma capsulatum
D) influenza
E) Mycoplasma pneumonia

Answer