Question

A 16 year old highschool student presents in the ER with a fever, stiff neck, headache and nausea. You order a spinal tap to be performed. Gram staining of the CSF reveals Gram (-) rods under the microscope. Which orgainism do you suspect is the likely causative agent?

Answer 1

Answer:

Pseudomonas aeruginosa,  Serratia marsescens,  Klebsiella pneumoniae or Escherichia coli

Explanation:

Meningitis is the inflamation of the meninges (membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord) due to the infection of the fluid around it. Some of the symptoms are fever, sleepiness, nausea and vomiting, stiff nech and seizures.

Meningitis can be caused by Gram negative bacterie such as H. influenzae., Escherichia coli,  Klebsiella pneumoniae,  Pseudomonas aeruginosa or  Serratia marsescens. From these options only Pseudomonas aeruginosa,  Serratia marsescens,  Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli are rod-shaped gram negatives.

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