Bacterial Meningitis is best described as which statement?

• A. Inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord caused by various types of bacteria
• B. Infection of the heart valves
• C. Inflammation of the lungs due to bacteria
• D. A viral infection of the brain

Answer: (A)

Meningitis means inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord. When bacteria are the cause, it is described as bacterial meningitis. The statement that inflammation occurs in the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord due to bacteria perfectly captures both the location and the cause, which defines bacterial meningitis. The other descriptions point to different conditions—valves of the heart (endocarditis), the lungs (bacterial pneumonia), or a viral infection of the brain (encephalitis)—so they don’t describe bacterial meningitis.