A 75-year-old man is brought by his daughter to the community health center. He appears confused and has a stiff neck and severe headache. She indicates that the previous week he had a runny nose and other symptoms consistent with sinusitis. What organism would you expect to find in his cerebrospinal fluid?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms of confusion and severe headache point to a case of bacterial meningitis. With preceding sinusitis in an elderly man, Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most likely cause. The other two bacteria are more often observed in infants or young adults.

A 75-Year-Old Man Is Brought by His Daughter to the Community