Question

A 42-year-old man who is HIV-positive is being treated for his first episode of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia onan inpatient medical ward when he begins to become increasingly disoriented, combative, and agitated. Pulseoximetry shows that he is oxygenating at 93% on room air. He is currently receiving nortriptyline for depressionand gabapentin for pain due to peripheral neuropathy. He has a history of alcohol abuse for the past severalyears before hospitalization and a remote history of opioid abuse. Which of the following is the most likelydiagnosis?A. Alcohol withdrawalB. HIV dementiaC. Hypoxemic encephalopathyD. Major depressive disorderE. Multifactorial delirium

Answer 1

I’d say A. Sounds like withdrawals.