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CASE 2

This 14-year-old girl felt fine until 3 days ago. She developed a fever (101oF) which has lasted for the past 3 days. She also complains of muscle aches and pains. Her mother noticed this rash on her back yesterday and called you right away. She is a native of Connecticut and flew out with her mother to see her sister (a KCOM student) 4 days ago. Three days before flying out to Kirksville she mentions going for a long walk in the woods while her brother was taking horseback riding lessons.
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1) What is the cause of this patient's problems (give me the etiologic agent)?

2) How did she acquire this infection?

3) How is this infection treated (name the antimicrobial agent if any you would use)?

4) If not treated name one of the sequelae that could develop.

The answers to the questions can be obtained by clicking this link: answers

Take Care and Think Microbiologically!
Neal R. Chamberlain, Ph.D.

Transmits Lyme Disease

The transmittor of this rash.

Answers 1= Borrelia burgdorferi; 2= bite from a tick infected with this organism; 3= an antibiotic (any one of the following have been used; penicillin, amoxicillin, doxycycline, erythromycin, cefuroxime axetil); 4= arthritic joints; neurological sequelae

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