Neonatology: neonatal meningitis duration: practice question

A Pediatrics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pediatrics · Neonatology: neonatal meningitis duration

Sample item

A neonate with sepsis has cerebrospinal fluid showing pleocytosis with a positive Gram stain. What is the usual duration of antibiotic treatment for gram-negative meningitis?

A21 daysB5 daysC7 daysD10 days

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. 21 days

Neonatal meningitis is treated for 14 days for gram-positive and 21 days for gram-negative organisms, or at least 14 days after sterilisation of CSF. A lumbar puncture should be considered in all suspected neonatal sepsis.

Option by option

A. 21 days (correct)
Correct. Gram-negative meningitis requires about 21 days.
B. 5 days
Five days is too short for meningitis.
C. 7 days
Seven days is the duration for uncomplicated sepsis, not meningitis.
D. 10 days
Ten days is insufficient for neonatal meningitis.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is A, 21 days. Neonatal meningitis is treated for 14 days for gram-positive and 21 days for gram-negative organisms, or at least 14 days after sterilisation of CSF.

Why is "5 days" not the answer?

Five days is too short for meningitis.

Why is "7 days" not the answer?

Seven days is the duration for uncomplicated sepsis, not meningitis.

Why is "10 days" not the answer?

Ten days is insufficient for neonatal meningitis.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neonatology: neonatal meningitis duration in Pediatrics. A lumbar puncture should be considered in all suspected neonatal sepsis.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Neonatology: neonatal meningitis duration?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.