**Core Concept**
The patient's symptoms, particularly the sudden onset of fever, chills, delirium, hypotension, and hyperventilation, suggest a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) triggered by the release of a bacterial component. This response is characteristic of a severe infection, likely caused by a gram-negative bacterium.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The patient's symptoms are consistent with the release of endotoxin, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) component of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. Endotoxin triggers a massive inflammatory response, leading to the release of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), which in turn cause the observed symptoms. The activation of the immune system by endotoxin is mediated by the recognition of LPS by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on immune cells.

**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**

* **Option A:** While exotoxins are also toxic components of bacteria, they are typically associated with gram-positive bacteria, such as Clostridium tetani, and are not the primary cause of the patient's symptoms.
* **Option B:** Capsular polysaccharides are a component of bacterial cell walls but are not directly responsible for triggering a systemic inflammatory response.
* **Option C:** Peptidoglycan is a component of the bacterial cell wall, but it is not as potent an activator of the immune system as endotoxin.

**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
The patient's symptoms are a classic example of sepsis, a life-threatening condition that requires prompt recognition and treatment with antibiotics and supportive care. The release of endotoxin is a key trigger for the systemic inflammatory response that occurs in sepsis.

**Correct Answer:** C.