Question

-Nora, 18 years old, felt nauseated and weak one afternoon 3 days after attending an all-night New Years Eve party. -in 4 hours, her condition had deteriorated: fever, nausea, confusion, stiff neck and the beginning of a rash on her extremities. -taken to ER, floated in and out of consciousness -rash worsens, appearing as large red-purple blotches on her arms, legs and body.

-in ER, a CSF and blood culture were drawn and antibiotic administered directly after. CSF sent to the labs for: -microbiology: culture and direct smear -hematology: cells -chemistry: total protein and glucose • Within 15 minutes her condition had worsened and she was transferred to the ICU and put on a respirator. • After 30 min the results came from the lab. Total cells in CSF: ↑(predominantly PMN) Protein levels: ↑ Glucose levels: ↓ Gram stain: G- diplococci
How is Neisseria meningitidis usually spread?
A. Airborne
B. Droplet
C. Vector
D. Fecal-oral
E. Blood transfusions

Answer 1

Neisseria meningitidis is usually spread through droplet transmission when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are critical for meningococcal meningitis, and antibiotics can effectively treat bacterial forms of the disease.

Step-by-step explanation:

Neisseria meningitidis is typically spread through droplet transmission. This means that the bacteria can spread from person to person through respiratory or throat secretions, such as saliva or nasal mucus. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, they release droplets into the air, which can then be inhaled by others, causing them to potentially contract the infection.

Given the serious nature of meningococcal meningitis, which progresses rapidly, it is vital to diagnose it promptly. Characteristics such as the presence of gram-negative diplococci in a CSF Gram stain and classic symptoms of meningitis can lead to immediate treatment with intravenous antibiotics, often before confirmed identification from blood and CSF samples.

Antibiotics are effective against bacterial meningitis caused by microorganisms like N. meningitidis, but they do not affect viral or fungal forms of meningitis. It's crucial for those who have been in close contact with the affected individual to potentially receive prophylactic antibiotics or vaccines to reduce the risk of contracting the disease.