Review Question - QID 109421

A 3-year-old male is brought to the emergency room by his mother for a rash and fever. The mother reports that the child first developed a cough and malaise three days ago. Over the last 24 hours, a rash developed and the patient had a temperature up to 101.4°F (38.6°C) the night prior to presentation. The child’s medical history is notable for a prior hospitalization at the age of 2 for fever, vomiting, and lethargy. During that hospitalization, a cerebrospinal fluid sample demonstrated gram-negative diplococci. His current temperature is 100.9°F (38.3°C), blood pressure is 130/85 mmHg, pulse is 115/min, and respirations are 22/min. Physical examination reveals a lethargic male child with a diffuse petechial skin rash that is most prominent on the trunk and legs. This patient most likely has a deficiency in which of the following factors?