Question

Difficulty: EasyInfectious Diseases

A clinical guideline committee is creating a quick-reference protocol for managing specific infectious disease exposures. Match each patient scenario with the single most appropriate pharmacological management plan.

  • A 28-year-old healthcare worker who sustained a deep needlestick injury after drawing blood from an untreated patient with a high HIV viral load.Three-drug antiretroviral therapy (e.g., tenofovir, emtricitabine, dolutegravir) for 28 days
  • A 32-year-old pregnant woman in active labor whose rectovaginal screening swab at 36 weeks gestation was positive for Streptococcus agalactiae.Intravenous penicillin G administered immediately and repeatedly until delivery
  • A 19-year-old college student who shared drinks with a roommate recently hospitalized for confirmed Neisseria meningitidis meningitis.Single oral dose of ciprofloxacin
  • A 45-year-old postal worker presenting with a deep puncture wound on the right hand after being bitten by a stray cat.Oral amoxicillin-clavulanate for 3 to 5 days

Answer

Match the HIV exposure to triple ART, the GBS colonization to IV Penicillin G, the meningococcal contact to single-dose ciprofloxacin, and the cat bite to amoxicillin-clavulanate.
Each clinical scenario presents a classic, high-yield infectious exposure with a highly standardized prophylactic or empiric regimen dictated by current infectious disease guidelines. Recognizing these direct associations is fundamental to providing safe and effective urgent care.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate the needlestick injury from an HIV-positive patient.
Identify this as a high-risk occupational exposure requiring comprehensive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Standard PEP protocols mandate a 3-drug antiretroviral regimen for 28 days.
2
Evaluate the pregnant patient in labor with a positive GBS (Streptococcus agalactiae) swab.
Identify the need for intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis.
IV penicillin G is the first-line agent to prevent vertical transmission of GBS and subsequent neonatal sepsis.
3
Evaluate the college student exposed to Neisseria meningitidis.
Identify the need for meningococcal chemoprophylaxis.
Close contacts require eradication of nasopharyngeal carriage. A single oral dose of ciprofloxacin is highly effective and convenient.
4
Evaluate the patient with a cat bite.
Identify the risk for Pasteurella multocida and mixed oral flora.
Amoxicillin-clavulanate is the first-line empiric oral therapy for cat and dog bites due to its excellent coverage of these specific pathogens.

Key Concept

Post-exposure prophylaxis and targeted empiric therapy for common infectious exposures
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