A 21-year-old student presents with fever, headache, photophobia and a petechial rash on his trunk. He is tachycardic and hypotensive. You suspect men...

Question

A 21-year-old student presents with fever, headache, photophobia and a petechial rash on his trunk. He is tachycardic and hypotensive. You suspect meningococcal sepsis. You are in a GP surgery 20 minutes from the nearest hospital. What is the single most appropriate immediate action?

Accepted Answer

Give IM benzylpenicillin and arrange urgent transfer to hospital

Answer

Wait for blood culture results before treating

Answer

Give oral amoxicillin and review later

Answer

Reassure and observe in the surgery

Answer

Give intranasal influenza vaccine

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Meningococcal sepsis – pre-hospital management

A 21-year-old student presents with fever, headache, photophobia and a petechial rash on his trunk. He is tachycardic and hypotensive. You suspect meningococcal sepsis. You are in a GP surgery 20 minutes from the nearest hospital. What is the single most appropriate immediate action?