Final answer:
Antibiotic treatment targets bacteria, including both gram-positive and gram-negative, which are identified via CSF examination and Gram staining. Antibiotics do not work against viral infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antibiotic treatment is designed to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. When a patient, like Cora, is suspected of having an infection such as bacterial meningitis, a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is examined. If antibiotics are prescribed, they will target bacteria present in the CSF. This includes both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, which can be identified through Gram staining - a technique distinguishing the two groups based on their cell wall composition. Effective antibiotics might include broad-spectrum drugs that can kill a wide range of bacteria or more specific agents chosen based on the identification of the bacteria present in the specimen.
It is important to note that antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections, so they wouldn't be useful against viruses that can cause conditions such as viral meningitis. If Cora's test results had shown a viral presence, her doctor might have prescribed an antiviral medication instead.