A 23-Year-Old Woman Is Brought to the Emergency Department with Fever

question 137

Multiple Choice

A 23-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department with fever, rash, and decreased level of consciousness.  She is accompanied by her boyfriend.  The patient became increasingly confused throughout the morning and eventually unarousable, prompting him to call an ambulance.
After initial evaluation, lumbar puncture is performed and empiric antibiotic therapy is started.  Cerebral spinal fluid shows Gram-negative diplococci.  She is admitted to the intensive care unit.
Which of the following individuals needs antibiotics for post-exposure prophylaxis?

• A)Medical resident who performed the initial lumbar puncture
• B)Emergency department  nurse who triaged the patient
• C)Patient's boyfriend, who received the meningococcal vaccine 1 year ago
• D)Transporter who took the patient from the emergency department to the intensive care unit

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Definitions:

Co-Morbidity

A separate condition or illness present in the same patient at the same time as another unrelated condition or illness.

Co-Morbidity

The simultaneous presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions in a patient.

Major Complication or Co-Morbidity

A significant secondary condition that can occur along with the primary disease, affecting the patient's recovery or treatment.

DRG Assignment

The process of grouping patients into Diagnostic Related Groups for the purpose of hospital payment and benchmarking.