A 35-year-old female with AIDS was transported to the ER wit…

A 35-year-old female with AIDS was transported to the ER with a fever of 39o Celsius (102.2o Fahrenheit [N = 97 – 99o Fahrenheit]), and a three-week history of copious diarrhea. For this patient, what is the most likely critical course of events that led to her acid-base disturbance?