A 30-year-old woman was hospitalized after she experienced convulsions.On examination,she was alert and oriented and complained of a fever,headache,and stiff neck.Which of the following is most likely to provide rapid identification of the cause of her symptoms?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A Gram stain of cerebrospinal fluid can quickly identify the presence of bacteria, allowing for a rapid diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, which could be the cause of the patient's symptoms. Throat culture and serum antibody tests may take longer to produce results, and brain tissue biopsy is an invasive procedure that would not be performed unless other diagnostic methods were inconclusive.

A 30-Year-Old Woman Was Hospitalized After She Experienced Convulsions