Continuing Education Courses
Continuing Education for MLS & MLT
Continuing Education for Phlebotomists
Continuing Education for Histologists
HR Courses
Intro to the Medical Lab
Video Continuing Education Courses
All Available Courses
Exam Simulators
Exam Simulator for MLS & MLT
NSH + LabCE Histology Exam Simulator
Phlebotomy Exam Simulator
Molecular Exam Simulator
Case Simulators
RBC Morphology Simulator
White Blood Cell Differential Case Simulator
Advanced WBC Differential Case Simulator
Urinalysis Case Simulator
Body Fluid Case Simulator
Bacteriology Case Simulator
Blood Culture Gram Stain Case Simulator
LabCE Quiz Game
Contact & Support
Log In
Log In
Case History
This version of the course is no longer available.
Need multiple seats for your university or lab?
Get a quote
The page below is a sample from the LabCE course
Case Studies in Clinical Microbiology
. Access the complete course and earn ASCLS P.A.C.E.-approved continuing education credits by subscribing online.
Learn more about Case Studies in Clinical Microbiology (online CE course)
Case History
A 63-year-old man was seen in the emergency room with the complaints of sudden onset of fever, chills, and abdominal pain, accompanied by mild diarrhea. The blood pressure was 140/84, the pulse rate 82/minute, and the body temperature 39.8C. A blood sample was drawn for a complete blood count, and a blood culture.
A second blood culture was drawn from the opposite arm, with 10 mL of blood being placed into each an aerobic and an anaerobic bottle, following customary practice.
The complete blood count revealed a hemoglobin of 15.8 mg/dL, a hematocrit of 45%, and a white blood count of 4.2/L. The neutrophils were 39%, lymphocytes 45%, monocytes 10%, eosinophils 4% and basophils 2%. The platelet count was 255/L. The patient was admitted to the hospital for further work-up and empiric antibiotic therapy.
Within 24 hours after admission, the body temperature had decreased to 38.2C, although the mild diarrhea persisted.
A stool toxin test for
Clostridium difficile
was negative and neither enteric pathogens nor
Campylobacter
species were recovered in stool culture after 24 hours incubation. Fecal neutrophils were not seen on direct examination.
The anaerobic blood culture became positive 36 hours after inoculation.
X
×