Andrew Perry
Exam 3 Case Study
11/30/15
1. The following are the three most likely causes of the patient’s meningitis: -West Nile Virus: West Nile is a zoonotic virus that is transmitted through mosquitoes (Ryan et al. 2014). Most people exposed to West Nile virus do not exhibit any symptoms (Ryan et al. 2014). However, people who are immunocompromised may develop mild to severe symptoms (Ryan et al. 2014). West Nile, in some cases, may cause meningitis (Ryan et al. 2014). Since the patient is a farmer, it is possible that he might have contracted West Nile due to being exposed to mosquitoes. -Streptococcal pneumoniae: Streptococcal pneumoniae is typically part of normal flora and usually does not cause any problems for people with healthy immune systems (Ryan et al. 2014). However, it can cause …show more content…
2014). Like the other two possibilities above, the fungus is typically not a problem for people with healthy immune systems (Ryan et al. 2014). It is the most common cause of fungal meningitis and mostly affects people with compromised immune systems (Ryan et al. 2014). Since the patient works outside on a farm, he may have contracted the infection from being exposed to contaminated soil.
2. The etiologic diagnosis is cryptococcal meningitis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. The presence of yeast in the CSF sample indicates a fungal infection (Ryan et al. 2014). Increased white blood cell counts, particularly increased lymphocytes, and depressed glucose levels are usually found in people with the infection, as well (Ryan et al. 2014).
3. Since the patient is a farmer, he most likely contracted the disease while working outside due to being exposed to contaminated soil. The patient’s immune system is compromised due to undergoing corticosteroid treatments, which makes him more susceptible to
Exam 3 Case Study
11/30/15
1. The following are the three most likely causes of the patient’s meningitis: -West Nile Virus: West Nile is a zoonotic virus that is transmitted through mosquitoes (Ryan et al. 2014). Most people exposed to West Nile virus do not exhibit any symptoms (Ryan et al. 2014). However, people who are immunocompromised may develop mild to severe symptoms (Ryan et al. 2014). West Nile, in some cases, may cause meningitis (Ryan et al. 2014). Since the patient is a farmer, it is possible that he might have contracted West Nile due to being exposed to mosquitoes. -Streptococcal pneumoniae: Streptococcal pneumoniae is typically part of normal flora and usually does not cause any problems for people with healthy immune systems (Ryan et al. 2014). However, it can cause …show more content…
2014). Like the other two possibilities above, the fungus is typically not a problem for people with healthy immune systems (Ryan et al. 2014). It is the most common cause of fungal meningitis and mostly affects people with compromised immune systems (Ryan et al. 2014). Since the patient works outside on a farm, he may have contracted the infection from being exposed to contaminated soil.
2. The etiologic diagnosis is cryptococcal meningitis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. The presence of yeast in the CSF sample indicates a fungal infection (Ryan et al. 2014). Increased white blood cell counts, particularly increased lymphocytes, and depressed glucose levels are usually found in people with the infection, as well (Ryan et al. 2014).
3. Since the patient is a farmer, he most likely contracted the disease while working outside due to being exposed to contaminated soil. The patient’s immune system is compromised due to undergoing corticosteroid treatments, which makes him more susceptible to