If a newborn has symptoms of meningitis but the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is negative for both Gram stain and a routine culture, what organisms should be suspected?
A) Neisseria gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis
B) Treponema pallidum and Borrelia burgdorferi
C) Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum
D) M. pneumoniae and C. trachomatis

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum are both bacteria that can cause meningitis in newborns, but they are difficult to culture using routine methods. Therefore, a negative CSF culture does not rule out these organisms as the cause of the symptoms. Neisseria gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis can also cause meningitis in newborns, but they are easier to culture and would likely have been detected if present. Treponema pallidum and Borrelia burgdorferi are not common causes of neonatal meningitis. M. pneumoniae is a cause of respiratory infections, but rarely causes meningitis.

If a Newborn Has Symptoms of Meningitis but the Cerebrospinal