A nurse is caring for a patient with suspected meningitis. Which diagnostic procedure should the nurse expect to be performed to confirm the diagnosis?

Choice A rationale:

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) was a common cause of bacterial meningitis in the past, especially in children, but its incidence has significantly decreased due to the widespread use of the Hib vaccine.

Choice B rationale:

Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcal) can cause meningitis and is an important pathogen, but it is more commonly associated with meningitis in children and young adults.

Choice C rationale:

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcal) is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in adults. It is a gram-positive bacterium that can lead to severe infections, including pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections.

Choice D rationale:

Escherichia coli is a bacterial species typically associated with urinary tract infections and gastrointestinal illnesses. While it can rarely cause meningitis in certain populations, it is not the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in adults.

Choice E rationale:

Group B streptococcus is a significant cause of neonatal meningitis but is less commonly responsible for meningitis in adults.

Choice D rationale:

Viral meningitis is usually transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets. It can also be spread through contact with fecal matter and other body fluids. In contrast, bacterial meningitis has multiple routes of transmission, including respiratory droplets, direct contact, and contaminated food or water.

Choice A rationale:

Ingestion of raw or undercooked snails or slugs is associated with a parasitic infection called "rat lungworm" and not viral meningitis.

Choice B rationale:

While the infected person can act as a vector for the spread of viral meningitis, the primary mode of transmission is through respiratory droplets and not the human body itself. The reservoir for viral meningitis is often human carriers, but it can also exist in other animals or environmental sources.

Choice C rationale:

Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae are bacterial pathogens that can cause bacterial meningitis, not viral meningitis.

Choice E rationale:

Viral meningitis is not caused by a fungus, and environmental sources are not the reservoirs for viral meningitis transmission. It is mainly transmitted from person to person.