In a patient presenting with chills, fever, and a painful swollen knee, what test would be most appropriate in order to help make the diagnosis?
Explanation
Answer − A − In a patient presenting with chills, fever, and a painful swollen knee, the test that would be most appropriate in order to help in making the diagnosis is a culture of joint fluid from the affected knee. Because of suspected suppurative arthritis in this patient, the test is to ascertain which organism is involved and, with further identification and sensitivity, to determine which would be the antibiotic of choice.
