A 44-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by his wife because of confusion that began a few hours ago. Earlier in the day, he complained of a severe headache and nausea. On physical examination, his temperature is 38.3 C (101 F) and nuchal rigidity is present. Lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination show: Gram stain of the CSF would most likely reveal which of the following?

Question

A 44-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by his wife because of confusion that began a few hours ago.  Earlier in the day, he complained of a severe headache and nausea.  On physical examination, his temperature is 38.3 C (101 F) and nuchal rigidity is present.  Lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination show:  Gram stain of the CSF would most likely reveal which of the following?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Bacterial meningitis causes an increase in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neutrophil count and protein concentration as well as a decrease in CSF glucose.  Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia, otitis media, and meningitis in adults.  S pneumoniae appears on Gram stain as lancet-shaped, Gram-positive cocci in pairs.

A 44-Year-Old Man Is Brought to the Emergency Department by His