Definition of "Meningococcal disease"

Last modified: 2 days



Meningococcal disease are infections caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis (aka meningococcus).

Patient information

What is meningicoccal disease? Does it have anything to do with meningitis?
Actually, it does. It's an infection be a bacteria, called meningococcus, and yes, it causes several problems, one of which is meningitis.

What sort of bacteria is meningococcal?
It's long name is Neisseria meningitidis, so meningococcal is like a nickname. It's a gram negative bacteria, that is round shaped.

Pathophysiology
  • Colonizes a large number of the general population harmlessly, but in a very small percentage of Pt's, it invades the entire body through blood stream, notably the limbs and brain, causing serious illness
Risk factors
  • It is transmitted through saliva, and close, prolonged general contact with an infected Pt
Sx
  • Meningococcemia, which can cause DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation), which is inappropriate clotting of blood within the vessels. DIC can cause ischemic tissue damage, when upstream clots obstruct blood flow, and hemorrhage, because clotting factors are exhausted. Small bleeds into skin, cause the characteristic petechial rash, which appears with a star shape. This is due to the release of toxins into blood, that break down the walls of blood vessels. Rash develops under the skin due to blood leakage that may leave red or brownish pinprick spots, which can develop into purple bruising. It can be tested by a glass test in which the rash doesn't fade away under pressure
  • Meningitis, it's best known result
  • Septicemia
  • Rarely:
    • Carditis
    • Septic arthritis
    • Pneumonia

Patient information

What happens in an infection by meningococcal?
So meningitis, which is inflammation of the of the 3 layers that cover the brain and spinal cord. The bug can also spread into blood, and cause inappropriate clotting throughout the body, called DIC. Toxins in blood cause breakdown of the blood vessel walls, which causes blood leakage under skin, causing a rash that doesn't disappear when you press on it. And of course, since the bug is in blood, it can cause infection of the blood.

Anything else?
Since the bug is in bug, it can cause inflammation of the heart, joints, and lungs.

Tx
  • Start Tx IMMEDIATELY, and NOT delayed whilst waiting for Ix
  • IM administration of benzylpenicillin, and urgent transfer to hospital
  • ABCDE's, including:
    • IV fluids
    • Oxygen
    • Inotropic support, e.g. dopamine or dobutamine
    • Mx of raised ICP
  • IV abx, usually broad spectrum 3rd generation cephalosporins, e.g. cefotaxime or ceftriaxone. Benzylpenicillin and chloramphenicol are also effective
  • Steroids may help in adult patients, but is unlikely to affect long term outcomes
  • Prevention, w/ Meningococcal vaccine, which is a vaccine used against Neisseria meningitidis

Patient information

What can you do about an infection by meningococcal?
You want to start immediately, and give benpen through muscle as soon as you can. Resuscitation is important, so give fluids, oxygen, and whatever help required. As soon as you're at hospital, we switch to antibiotics by IV.

Is there any way to prevent an infection by meningococcal?
Yep, with the meningococcal vaccine.

Complications

Overwhelming bacterial infection meningococcemia, leads to:

  • Massive blood invasion
  • Organ failure
  • Coma
  • Hypotension/shock
  • DIC with widespread purpura
  • Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome (aka hemorrhagic adrenalitis, fulminant meningococcemia), which is adrenal gland failure, due to bleeding into the adrenal glands, comonly caused by severe bacterial infection, typically the meningococcus Neisseria meningitidis.
  • Death

Patient information

What bad things happen in a bacterial infection by meningococcal?
So the bug distributes right throughout blood. It can cause organs to fail. Coma, because it gets to the brain. Low blood pressure, and not enough blood going to the end organs. Widespread blood clots. Bleeding into the adrenal glands. And eventually, death.

Epidemiology
  • Carries a high mortality rate if untreated
  • Is a vaccine preventable disease
  • Death occurs in 15% of cases
  • The incidence is 10 times greater in developing countries than in developed countries
  • Epidemic increases the incidence by 10 times
  • Meningococcal vaccines have sharply reduced the incidence of Meningococcal disease in developed countries
See also

Find a practitioner

Practitioner count: 0
Sponsor a disease. And see how your proceeds help.
$1
Express interest
$10
Write text
$40
Write FAQ
$100
Snap photos
$400
Record audio
$1k
Produce video
$4k
Interview experts



Definition of Meningococcal disease | Autoprac


RSS feeds: Most recent Most viewed