Answer: B. condition characterized by a low white blood cell count.
Explanation: Neutropenia is a condition where neutrophil count is abnormally low in blood/ decrease. Neutrophils are the most prevalent type of WBCs. They respond to bacterial infections, such as pneumonia or urinary tract infections, by engulfing the bacteria through the process of phagocytosis. If the infection is moderate or severe, the bone marrow will produce extra amounts of neutrophils.
Neutropenia is usually a side effect of medications such as chemotherapy medications, heparin, and antibiotics, but can also be the result of some genetic disorders. Dangerously low levels of neutrophils pose an extremely high risk of contracting various bacterial and fungal infections.
Treatment is the discontinuation of offending medications causing neutropenia. There are medications called granulocyte colony stimulating factors (gCSF) available that stimulate the production of neutrophils. Two common gCSF medications are
* Filgrastim (Neupogen)
* Pegfilgrastim (Neulasta)
Patients with severe neutropenia are generally treated with a course of prophylactic antibiotics... PF
