Question

A 19-year-old college student presents with fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, and photophobia for 8 hours. Vitals: temperature 102.9 F, blood pressure 122/70 mmHg, heart rate 110 per minute. There are petechial lesions on his lower extremities. What is the most appropriate immediate management step?

Accepted Answer

Start empiric intravenous antibiotics immediately after blood cultures

Answer

Obtain brain MRI before antibiotics

Answer

Perform lumbar puncture and then start empiric antibiotics

Answer

Schedule outpatient neurology follow-up

Answer

Start antiviral therapy alone while awaiting CSF results

Practice question