Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus, is a relatively uncommon cause of invasive infection, but when it occurs it is frequently severe and potentially life threatening. Meningococcus should be considered and investigated promptly as a potentially etiologic pathogen in any patient with meningitis, or sepsis accompanied by a petechial rash. Suspected patients should receive early appropriate antimicrobial therapy concomitantly with confirmatory invasive diagnostic tests. Vaccines have reduced the incidence of infection with certain non-B meningococcal serogroups, and new serotype B vaccines are on the horizon. This article reviews the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of severe meningococcal infections.
Keywords:
Antimicrobial therapy; Diagnosis; Meningococcal infection; Meningococcus; Neisseria meningitidis; Sepsis.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
MeSH terms
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APACHE
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Administration, Intravenous
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
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Bacteremia* / diagnosis
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Bacteremia* / drug therapy
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Bacteremia* / epidemiology
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Bacteremia* / prevention & control
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Blood Chemical Analysis
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Brain / diagnostic imaging
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Cerebrospinal Fluid / chemistry
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Chemoprevention / methods
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Chemoprevention / standards
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Diagnosis, Differential
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Disease Notification
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Humans
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Immunocompromised Host
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Intensive Care Units
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Meningitis, Meningococcal / diagnosis
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Meningitis, Meningococcal / drug therapy
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Meningitis, Meningococcal / epidemiology
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Meningitis, Meningococcal / prevention & control
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Meningococcal Infections* / diagnosis
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Meningococcal Infections* / drug therapy
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Meningococcal Infections* / epidemiology
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Meningococcal Infections* / prevention & control
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Neisseria meningitidis / drug effects
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Neisseria meningitidis / isolation & purification
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Neisseria meningitidis / pathogenicity
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Prognosis
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Purpura Fulminans / etiology
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Purpura Fulminans / microbiology
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Purpura Fulminans / mortality
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Risk Assessment / methods
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Tomography, X-Ray Computed