A 24-Year-Old Previously Healthy Man Comes to the Office Due

A 24-year-old previously healthy man comes to the office due to a week of low-grade fever, malaise, sore throat, and persistent nonproductive cough.  He does not use tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs.  The patient takes no medications and has no drug allergies.  He lives in Connecticut and has not traveled recently.  Physical examination reveals mild pharyngeal erythema, no nasal congestion, and bilateral vesicular breath sounds with no crackles or wheezes.  Chest x-ray shows patchy, interstitial infiltrates.  Sputum Gram stain shows numerous leukocytes but no organisms.  Which of the following agents is the best initial treatment for this patient?

A) Antagonist of folate metabolism
B) Inhibitor of bacterial cell wall synthesis
C) Inhibitor of bacterial protein synthesis
D) Inhibitor of ergosterol synthesis
E) Inhibitor of mycolic acid synthesis

Correct Answer:

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