From the Guidelines
Invasive meningococcal infection refers to a serious bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis that has spread beyond the respiratory tract and entered the bloodstream or other normally sterile sites in the body, posing a life-threatening illness with rapid onset and progression. This infection typically manifests as meningitis (inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord) or meningococcemia (bloodstream infection), or both simultaneously, as noted in a study on recommendations for serogroup b meningococcal vaccine for persons 10 years and older 1. The bacteria can also occasionally infect other sites such as joints, heart, or eyes.
Key Characteristics of Invasive Meningococcal Infection
- Rapid onset and progression
- Symptoms including high fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, altered mental status, and a distinctive rash that doesn't blanch when pressed
- Can progress from mild symptoms to life-threatening illness within hours
- Requires immediate administration of antibiotics, such as ceftriaxone or cefotaxime, for treatment
- Preventable through vaccination, with close contacts of infected individuals requiring prophylactic antibiotics to prevent secondary cases, as the bacteria spreads through respiratory droplets and close contact 1.
Prevention and Treatment
- Vaccination is a key preventive measure, with serogroup B disease incidence declining despite the fact that serogroup B is not contained in any of the existing conjugate polysaccharide meningococcal vaccines 1
- Treatment involves immediate administration of antibiotics, typically ceftriaxone or cefotaxime, continued for 7-10 days, along with supportive care in an intensive care setting
- Prophylactic antibiotics, such as rifampin, ciprofloxacin, or ceftriaxone, are necessary for close contacts of infected individuals to prevent secondary cases.
From the Research
Definition of Invasive Meningococcal Infection
Invasive meningococcal infection refers to a contagious bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis) that can lead to severe and potentially life-threatening conditions such as meningitis and septicemia 2.
Key Characteristics
- The infection is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, which is a member of the normal nasopharyngeal microbiome in healthy individuals but can become pathogenic in susceptible individuals 2.
- Household contacts have the highest risk of contracting the disease during the first week of a case being detected 3.
- The infection can be treated with antibiotics, and prophylaxis is considered for close contacts of people with a meningococcal infection and populations with known high carriage rates 3.
Antibiotic Treatment
- Various antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and rifampin have been shown to be effective in treating and preventing meningococcal infections 3, 4, 5.
- The choice of antibiotic may depend on factors such as the severity of the infection, the patient's age and health status, and the presence of antibiotic resistance 4, 6, 5.
Prevention and Control
- Vaccination is an important measure for preventing meningococcal infections, and several vaccines are available to protect against different serogroups of N. meningitidis 2.
- Monitoring of antibiotic susceptibility patterns is crucial for the effective management and prevention of the spread of antibiotic-resistant N. meningitidis isolates 4.