Click here for Case Study #4.
Mr. Johnson, a 68-year-old retired auto mechanic (and Mrs. Smith's father) develops fever, myalgias, and non-productive cough. You diagnose influenza, prescribe rest and analgesics, and after three days he is feeling better. He then develops a sudden shaking chill and a cough producing rusty sputum. He calls your office because he is coughing so much he can't smoke any more.
For each question, one or more answers may be correct.
What do you tell him?
A) Great! You've wanted him to quit smoking for years.
B) Drive to a pharmacy and buy an OTC cough suppressant.
C) Come to the hospital/office for laboratory tests.
D) Phone in an antibiotic prescription to a pharmacy and ask him to pick it up.
The laboratory reports his sputum gram stain as gram + diplococci. Culture will be available tomorrow and antibiotic-sensitivity the next day. Click here to see the stained smear. What should your initial therapy be?
Click here for information on Viral Infections Followed by Bacterial Pneumonia and Influenza Viral Pneumonia.
Click here for Case Study #4.