See epidemiology of neisseria meningitidis infection and bacterial meningitis in children older than one month. Meningococcal meningitis and meningococcemia are the 2 clinical syndromes with which it is traditionally associated, resulting from invasion of the local tissues into the bloodstream. Meningococcal disease is a contagious bacterial disease caused by the bacteria neisseria meningitidis n meningitidis with high fatality rates. Meningococcal disease can be difficult to diagnose because the signs and symptoms are often similar to those of other illnesses. Neisseria meningitidis the meningococcus is the cause of epidemic cerebrospinal fever, clusters and sporadic cases of acute bacterial meningitis, 15,6 mild bacteremia to devastating septicemia, pneumonia, and, less commonly, septic arthritis, pericarditis, chronic bacteremia, conjunctivitis, epiglottitis, otitis, sinusitis, urethritis, and proctitis. Neisseria meningitidis can cause both invasive and noninvasive form of the disease. If a doctor suspects meningococcal disease, they will collect samples of blood or cerebrospinal fluid fluid near the spinal cord. The epidemiology and serogroup distribution can change very quickly.
Vaccination is used for close contacts of patients with meningococcal disease due to a, c, y, or w5 serogroups, to prevent secondary cases. Prevention of neisseria meningitidis american academy of. Meningococcal disease can refer to any illness that is caused by a type of bacteria called neisseria meningitidis. Neisseria meningitidis is immediately reportable on first knowledge or suspicion of the diagnosis due to the potential need for prophylaxis of close contacts within 24 hours of suspected diagnosis suspicion is normally based on gram stain results see table on page 4. Ceftriaxone given in a single intramuscular dose is effective in eradicating carriage. Neisseria meningitidis st11 complex isolates associated. Stis have a direct impact on reproductive and child health through infertility, cancers and pregnancy complications, and. The emotional impact of a mistaken diagnosis of gonococcal infection and the need to treat asymptomatic throat carriage in sexual contacts makes early recognition of meningococcal. Neisseria meningitidis haemophilus influenzae streptococcus pneumoniae streptococcus pyogenes group a strep neisseria meningitidis is immediately reportable on first knowledge or suspicion of the diagnosis due to the potential need for prophylaxis of close contacts within 24 hours of suspected diagnosis suspicion is. In children and teens, meningococcus is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis. Changes in neisseria meningitidis disease epidemiology in.
During an epidemic a situation that is more common outside of the united states, secondary attack rates in family members may be as high as 4% to 5%. Antibiotics for preventing meningococcal infections cochrane. Doctors then send the samples to a laboratory for testing. Neisseria meningitidis is a bacteria that is best known for its role in endemic bacterial meningitis. Streptococcus pneumoniae and neisseria meningitidis are the commonest bacteria. Neisseria meningitidis severe meningococcal disease can occur when the bacterium enters normally sterile areas of the body, penetrating through the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. The organism was first recognized by weichselbaum in 1887 in the spinal fluid of six patients with acute cerebrospinal meningitis. Standardized treatment of bacterial meningitis in africa in epidemic. Neisseria meningitidis material safety data sheet infectious substances section i infectious agent name. Given the high burden of disease in adolescents, it is important for clinicians to be familiar with current. The fact that this bacteria is gram negative means that there is very little or no peptidoglycan in the cell wall. Neisseria meningitidis meningococcal disease 4 recommended rifampin1,2 dosages for chemoprophylaxis regimen of highrisk contacts of invasive meningococcal disease.
Although treatment with penicillin is still effective against these relatively resistant strains, there is evidence that lowdose treatment regimens can fail. Who guidelines for the treatment of neisseria gonorrhoeae. Acute urethritis due to neisseria meningitidis group a. The distribution and frequency of these serogroups varies from region to region. Clinical features and diagnosis, section on causative organisms and. Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in neisseria. He called it diplococcus intracellularis meningitidis because of the presence of the organism within leukocytes from the spinal fluid. Neisseria meningitidis causes approximately 3000 cases of invasive disease annually in the united states. Unlike a cold or the flu, the bacteria that cause meningitis cannot be spread by casual contact or by breathing the air. Meningococcal disease is a contagious infection spread by close contact, such as living with or kissing an infected person. Neisseria meningitidis is a common cause of communityacquired bacterial meningitis in children and adults in the united states and in many other countries. Infection with the bacterial pathogen neisseria meningitidis is the predominant cause of meningitis and septicemia globally 1, 2. Neisseria meningitidis, meningococcal meningitis, meningococcemia invasive meningococcal disease is an acute and serious infection caused by the bacterium neisseria meningitidis. Infection with neisseria meningitidis can produce a variety of clinical manifestations, ranging from transient fever and bacteremia to fulminant disease with death ensuing within hours of the onset of clinical symptoms.
Ciprofloxacin, administered to adults in a single oral dose is effective in. To describe the antimicrobial resistance profile of neisseria meningitidis isolates causing invasive disease in brazil from 2009 to 2016. Meningococcemia due to nongroupable neisseria meningitidis. Meningococcal disease wisconsin department of health. It can cause sepsis bloodstream infection, meningitis inflammation of the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord, and pneumonia. The estimated united states average annual incidence of meningococcal disease was 0. Meningococcal bacteria may cause infection in a part of the body the skin. Meningitis due to neisseria meningitidis may begin with an. In the period 19982007, a total of 2262 cases of meningococcal disease were reported from abcs sites. It is important that treatment start as soon as possible. Neisseria meningitidis has recently emerged as the leading cause of meningitis in children and young adults in the united states centers for disease control and prevention cdc, 2000.
Antibiotic, bacterial meningitis, escmid, guideline, neisseria meningitidis, streptococcus pneumoniae. Doctors treat meningococcal disease with a number of antibiotics. During periods of endemic disease, about 10 % of the general population harbour neisseria meningitidis in the nasopharynx. About 1 in 10 people have these bacteria in the back of their nose and throat without being ill. Multiple antimicrobial agents, including penicillins, are effective against n. Invasive meningococcal disease due to nongroupable neisseria meningitidisactive bacterial core surveillance sites. Disease description meningococcal disease is a serious and potentially lifethreatening infection caused by the bacterium neisseria meningitidis. The bacterium neisseria meningitidis, also called meningococcus, causes meningococcal meningitis.
The treatment of neisseria gonorrhoeae executive summary sexually transmitted infections stis are a major public health problem worldwide, affecting quality of life and causing serious morbidity and mortality. Neisseria meningitidis is an exclusive human pathogen. A case of heterosexual transmission of neisseria meningitidis group a by fellatio, which resulted in acute purulent urethritis in the male partner, is presented. Neisseria meningitidis is the bacterium that causes meningococcal disease, one of the leading sources of communityacquired sepsis and meningitis among children. Take a look at the map to find out more about what types of n. Meningococcal disease american academy of pediatrics. Subsequently, studies have demonstrated that a single dose of ceftriaxone. Meningococcal disease neisseria meningitidis disease. Appropriate suspending vehicle or syrup vehicle can be used for liquid suspension rifampin orders. Neisseria meningitidis is a gramnegative, either an encapsulated or unencapsulated, aerobic diplococcus with a kidney or coffeebean shape. Treatment because of the risks of severe morbidity and death, effective antibiotics should be administered promptly to patients suspected of having meningococcal disease. Both sporadic and epidemic disease can occur, and a large number of individuals can become infected within a short period of time.
Neisseria meningitidis the meningococcus is the cause of epidemic meningitis, a fulminant sepsis meningococcemia, milder bacteremia, and, less commonly, other focal infections. The neisseria meningitidis bacterium is usually spread through close, personal or prolonged contact with respiratory or oral secretions. The average annual rate of invasive disease such as meningitis, meningococcemia, and arthritis is approximately 1. Meningococcal meningitis, meningococcal infection, cerebrospinal fever, meningococcemia characteristics. Quick medical attention is extremely important if meningococcal disease is suspected. Meningococcus, the bacterium neisseria meningitidis, which causes meningococcal meningitis in humans, who are the only natural hosts in which it causes disease. Half a million cases of infection with this organism occur worldwide each year. Neisseria meningitidis an overview sciencedirect topics.
If a doctor suspects meningococcal disease, they will give the patient antibiotics right away. Meningitidis is described as a gramnegative diplococci. Empirical therapy for suspected meningococcal disease should. These species usually occupy distinct niches but may cause reciprocal diseases when n. Information on this page has been organized into three. Current meningococcal vaccines are indicated for active immunization to prevent invasive meningococcal disease caused by neisseria meningitidis.
Treatment for bacterial meningitis is antibiotics, with or without steroids. This bacteriology lecture will explain the general properties of neisseria meningitidis and it also explains the disease, pathogenesis, and treatment of neisseria meningitidis infection. Uncomplicated gonococcal infection commonly manifests as urethritis in men and may cause mucopurulent cervicitis in women. Sometimes the bacteria invade the body and cause certain illnesses, which are known as meningococcal disease. Pdf neisseria meningitidis b vaccines researchgate. A high rate of nasopharyngeal carriage occurs in household contacts of persons with invasive disease. Neisseria meningitidis a bacterial species found in the nasopharynx of humans but not in other animals. The bacteria are spherical, ranging in diameter from 0. Bacteria called neisseria meningitidis cause meningococcal disease. Noninvasive meningoccocal diseases include for example pharyngitis, pneumonia, bronchitis and others.