Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome is acute bilateral adrenal hemorrhage most commonly caused by which organism?

• A Staphylococcus aureus sepsis
• B Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• C Streptococcus pneumoniae
• D Neisseria meningitidis septicemia ✓

Explanation

Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome is caused by massive bilateral adrenal cortical hemorrhage and necrosis secondary to fulminant bacterial septicemia, most classically Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcemia). The mechanism involves endotoxin-induced DIC with microvascular thrombi in adrenal sinusoids, causing hemorrhagic infarction. The result is acute adrenal insufficiency with catastrophic hemodynamic collapse.

Reference: Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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