A Patient Whose Symptoms Include Discolored, Violet-Colored Skin with Large

Multiple Choice

A patient whose symptoms include discolored, violet-colored skin with large blisters, fever, malaise, rapid heart rate, and a great deal of pain is diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis. The rapid spread of Staphylococus aureus and group A streptococci that ravage the connective tissue of this patient is due to the ability of these organisms to destroy one of the components of the extracellular matrix of the skin. This component is

A) hyaluronic acid
B) keratan sulfate
C) dermatan sulfate
D) heparan sulfate
E) chondroitin-4-sulfate