Inflammation Case Study: Marcus and the Garden Incident Patient Name: Marcus Lee Age: 24 Occupation: Graduate student and part-time landscaper Chief Complaint: Painful, swollen cut on left hand

Inflammation Case Study: Marcus and the Garden Incident

Patient Name: Marcus Lee
Age: 24
Occupation: Graduate student and part-time landscaper
Chief Complaint: Painful, swollen cut on left hand with pus and fever

🧾 Case Summary

Marcus was trimming rose bushes without gloves and accidentally cut his hand on a thorn. He cleaned it quickly but didn’t cover it. Two days later, the area around the cut became red, swollen, and warm. By the third day, pus had formed, and Marcus developed a low-grade fever and fatigue. He visited urgent care, where the clinician diagnosed a localized bacterial infection with signs of acute inflammation.

🔬 Discussion Questions

1. What are the four signs of inflammation and what causes each one?
2. Bacteria have entered Marcus’ wound and have started to multiply.  What is his body likely doing to defend itself?  Be specific with at least 4 different parts of the immune system and how they react to an invader.  Tell me if these you mentioned are part of the innate or adaptive immune system.
3. Why might Marcus’s low-grade fever be a good thing?  What does a fever do specifically to slow down the infection?
4. What might happen if the infection is not treated?
5. Marcus’ bacterial infection will probably be treated with antibiotics.  Give me an example of an antibiotic and tell me how it works.  Would the antibiotics work if he had a viral infection?  Why or why not?