Assessment of Encephalitis: Video, Causes, and Symptoms | Osmosis

Question

A 25-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department due to the recent onset of seizure. Her parents report that 2 days ago, she started complaining of headaches and fever after returning from a fishing trip to Florida. Temperature is 38.9°C (102°F), pulse is 75/min, and blood pressure is 120/85 mmHg. On physical examination, the patient is postictal and responds only to noxious stimuli. Pupils are equal and react sluggishly to light. Meningeal signs are positive. Imaging results are equivocal. Lumbar puncture is obtained, and the results are shown below:

Cerebrospinal fluid

Reference Range

Opening pressure	500 mm H2O	40-180 mm H2O
Protein	250 mg/dL	<40 mg/dL
Glucose	20 mg/dL	40-70 mg/dL
RBCs	1000 cells//mm3	0 cells/mm3
WBC count	10000/µL	0-5/µL
Neutrophils	90%	N/A
Lymphocytes	10%	N/A
Gram stain	Negative	Negative
Wet mount	Retrieved from: Wikimedia Commons	N/A

The patient is subsequently provided with a medication that binds ergosterol with subsequent formation of membrane pores. Which of the following medications was provided for this patient’s condition?

Accepted Answer

Amphotericin B

Answer

Metronidazole

Answer

Rifampin

Answer

Pyrimethamine

Answer

Imipenem

Encephalitis

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