Poorly Controlled Type 2 in Medicine / Internal Medicine — 68yo Man | Infectious Diseases | SMLE Q#11959
SMLE Question #11959
Medicine / Internal Medicine
Infectious Diseases
Objective: OBJ-349
Last updated: February 2026
A 68-year-old man with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus and ischaemic heart disease undergoes elective coronary artery bypass grafting. On postoperative day 10, he develops fever, rigors, and increasing sternal wound discharge that persists despite IV antibiotics. Over the next 48 hours, he becomes confused and hypotensive and is admitted to ICU; blood cultures later grow gram-negative bacilli. He develops multiorgan failure and dies. What is the most immediate cause of death?
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