A 52-Year-Old Nursing Home Worker Comes to the Office with a 4-Week

A 52-year-old nursing home worker comes to the office with a 4-week history of nonproductive cough and night-time sweating.  She has unintentionally lost 2.2 kg (5 lb) over the last month.  Her medical history is significant for untreated hepatitis C and left-sided mastectomy for breast cancer 5 years ago.  She tested negative for HIV 6 months ago.  The patient takes no medications but smokes 1 pack of cigarettes daily and drinks 2 beers every weekend.  She emigrated from Vietnam 2 years ago.  Chest x-ray shows a right upper-lobe cavity with a surrounding infiltrate.  Which of the following is the most important epidemiologic clue to the etiology of this patient's disease?

A) Emigration from an endemic area
B) Hepatitis C diagnosis
C) Nursing home occupation
D) Previous breast cancer
E) Smoking history

Correct Answer:

Verified

Unlock this answer now
Get Access to more Verified Answers free of charge

Access For Free