UM Microbiology Cellulitis Case Study

Case 1

A 22-year old female automotive technician presents herself at the doctor’s

office. She complains of fever and of pain in her left hand.

On physical examination, the patient had a deep wound on her left palm that was

oozing pus. She had purplish, red streaks running up her left arm. She had

enlarged lymph nodes at the elbow and under her arm. The patient’s skin was

warm and dry.

in her history, the patient had punctured her left palm with sharp metal from the

undercarriage of a “real cherry” 1977 Malibu about a week earlier. She said the

wound had bled for a few minutes and she thought that she had washed it “real

good” with soap and water. She had covered the wound with a large “Band-Aid”

and gone back to work. She developed a fever about three days later. For the past couple of days, she “did not feel so good” and had vomiting and diarrhea.

1.    What type of infection/illness do you believe the patient has?

2.   What Type of treatment would you give the patient?

3,   How did you come to that conclusion? According to the symptoms.,,

4.    From the history, which of the information confirmed your choice?