Which organism is the most likely cause of a 'currant jelly' sputum in an alcoholic patient with lobar pneumonia?
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Correct answer: Klebsiella pneumoniae
Klebsiella pneumoniae is an encapsulated Gram-negative rod that frequently causes severe pneumonia in debilitated individuals. The thick, mucoid capsule produces a characteristic 'currant jelly' sputum due to blood-tinged mucus.
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