If a previously healthy individual suddenly develops neutropenia (low neutrophil count) following exposure to a novel synthetic drug, which consequence is most likely?

💡 Explanation

Neutrophils are essential for phagocytosis and killing of bacteria; a reduction in their numbers impairs the innate immune response to bacterial infections because neutropenia reduces the clearance of bacteria through phagocytosis. Therefore, impaired bacterial control is expected, rather than enhanced parasitic clearance or increased T-cell cytotoxicity, which are related to different immune pathways.

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