A 45-Year-Old Man with Diabetes Mellitus Is Admitted to the Intensive

A 45-year-old man with diabetes mellitus is admitted to the intensive care unit due to community-acquired pneumonia, septic shock, and respiratory failure.  Two days ago, he developed fever, productive cough, and shortness of breath that has progressively worsened.  The patient is intubated and placed on mechanical ventilation.  He is also started on intravenous fluids, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and a norepinephrine infusion.  On the third day of hospitalization, hemoglobin level drops from 14 g/dL to 12 g/dL.  Nasogastric suctioning reveals bright red blood.  This patient's bleeding is most likely a result of which of the following processes?

A) Autoimmune parietal cell destruction
B) Gastrin-secreting tumor
C) Granuloma formation
D) Helicobacter pylori infection
E) Malignant transformation
F) Stress-related mucosal injury

Correct Answer:

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