A 15-Year-Old Boy Is Evaluated for Fever, Headache, Malaise, and Cough

A 15-year-old boy is evaluated for fever, headache, malaise, and cough 3 weeks after returning from summer camp.  Lung auscultation is unremarkable.  Chest x-ray reveals nodular infiltrates.  The patient's blood samples are collected for analysis in anticoagulated tubes, which are transported submerged in ice; when taken out several minutes later, turbidity and clumping are noted.  Warming the tube to body temperature leads to rapid dissolution of the clumps.  Which of the following organisms is most likely responsible for this patient's condition?

A) Coccidioides immitis
B) Coxiella burnetii
C) Haemophilus influenzae
D) Histoplasma capsulatum
E) Klebsiella pneumoniae
F) Legionella pneumophila
G) Mycobacterium kansasii
H) Mycoplasma pneumoniae
I) Pneumocystis jirovecii
J) Streptococcus pneumoniae

Correct Answer:

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