Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Contributors
- Preface
- Part I Clinical syndromes: general
- Part II Clinical syndromes: head and neck
- Part III Clinical syndromes: eye
- Part IV Clinical syndromes: skin and lymph nodes
- Part V Clinical syndromes: respiratory tract
- Part VI Clinical syndromes: heart and blood vessels
- Part VII Clinical syndromes: gastrointestinal tract, liver, and abdomen
- Part VIII Clinical syndromes: genitourinary tract
- Part IX Clinical syndromes: musculoskeletal system
- Part X Clinical syndromes: neurologic system
- Part XI The susceptible host
- Part XII HIV
- Part XIII Nosocomial infection
- Part XIV Infections related to surgery and trauma
- Part XV Prevention of infection
- Part XVI Travel and recreation
- Part XVII Bioterrorism
- Part XVIII Specific organisms: bacteria
- 123 Actinomycosis
- 124 Anaerobic infections
- 125 Anthrax and other Bacillus species
- 126 Bartonella bacilliformis
- 127 Cat scratch disease and other Bartonella infections
- 128 Bordetella
- 129 Branhamella–Moraxella
- 130 Brucellosis
- 131 Campylobacter
- 132 Clostridium
- 133 Corynebacteria
- 134 Enterobacteriaceae
- 135 Enterococcus
- 136 Erysipelothrix
- 137 HACEK
- 138 Helicobacter pylori
- 139 Gonococcus: Neisseria gonorrhoeae
- 140 Haemophilus
- 141 Legionellosis
- 142 Leprosy
- 143 Meningococcus and miscellaneous neisseriae
- 144 Listeria
- 145 Nocardia
- 146 Pasteurella multocida
- 147 Pneumococcus
- 148 Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, and Burkholderia
- 149 Rat-bite fevers
- 150 Salmonella
- 151 Staphylococcus
- 152 Streptococcus groups A, B, C, D, and G
- 153 Viridans streptococci
- 154 Poststreptococcal immunologic complications
- 155 Shigella
- 156 Tularemia
- 157 Tuberculosis
- 158 Nontuberculous mycobacteria
- 159 Vibrios
- 160 Yersinia
- 161 Miscellaneous gram-positive organisms
- 162 Miscellaneous gram-negative organisms
- Part XIX Specific organisms: spirochetes
- Part XX Specific organisms: Mycoplasma and Chlamydia
- Part XXI Specific organisms: Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma
- Part XXII Specific organisms: fungi
- Part XXIII Specific organisms: viruses
- Part XXIV Specific organisms: parasites
- Part XXV Antimicrobial therapy: general considerations
- Index
- References
143 - Meningococcus and miscellaneous neisseriae
from Part XVIII - Specific organisms: bacteria
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 April 2015
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Contributors
- Preface
- Part I Clinical syndromes: general
- Part II Clinical syndromes: head and neck
- Part III Clinical syndromes: eye
- Part IV Clinical syndromes: skin and lymph nodes
- Part V Clinical syndromes: respiratory tract
- Part VI Clinical syndromes: heart and blood vessels
- Part VII Clinical syndromes: gastrointestinal tract, liver, and abdomen
- Part VIII Clinical syndromes: genitourinary tract
- Part IX Clinical syndromes: musculoskeletal system
- Part X Clinical syndromes: neurologic system
- Part XI The susceptible host
- Part XII HIV
- Part XIII Nosocomial infection
- Part XIV Infections related to surgery and trauma
- Part XV Prevention of infection
- Part XVI Travel and recreation
- Part XVII Bioterrorism
- Part XVIII Specific organisms: bacteria
- 123 Actinomycosis
- 124 Anaerobic infections
- 125 Anthrax and other Bacillus species
- 126 Bartonella bacilliformis
- 127 Cat scratch disease and other Bartonella infections
- 128 Bordetella
- 129 Branhamella–Moraxella
- 130 Brucellosis
- 131 Campylobacter
- 132 Clostridium
- 133 Corynebacteria
- 134 Enterobacteriaceae
- 135 Enterococcus
- 136 Erysipelothrix
- 137 HACEK
- 138 Helicobacter pylori
- 139 Gonococcus: Neisseria gonorrhoeae
- 140 Haemophilus
- 141 Legionellosis
- 142 Leprosy
- 143 Meningococcus and miscellaneous neisseriae
- 144 Listeria
- 145 Nocardia
- 146 Pasteurella multocida
- 147 Pneumococcus
- 148 Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, and Burkholderia
- 149 Rat-bite fevers
- 150 Salmonella
- 151 Staphylococcus
- 152 Streptococcus groups A, B, C, D, and G
- 153 Viridans streptococci
- 154 Poststreptococcal immunologic complications
- 155 Shigella
- 156 Tularemia
- 157 Tuberculosis
- 158 Nontuberculous mycobacteria
- 159 Vibrios
- 160 Yersinia
- 161 Miscellaneous gram-positive organisms
- 162 Miscellaneous gram-negative organisms
- Part XIX Specific organisms: spirochetes
- Part XX Specific organisms: Mycoplasma and Chlamydia
- Part XXI Specific organisms: Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma
- Part XXII Specific organisms: fungi
- Part XXIII Specific organisms: viruses
- Part XXIV Specific organisms: parasites
- Part XXV Antimicrobial therapy: general considerations
- Index
- References
Summary
Meningococcal infection, first recognized over 2 centuries ago as epidemic cerebrospinal fever, occurs worldwide as endemic sporadic cases but with the potential to spread and expand into an epidemic. Humans are the only natural host for the bacteria. Transmission of the organism occurs from person to person by direct contact with colonized respiratory secretions or airborne droplets with subsequent colonization of the nasopharynx. Nasopharyngeal carriage approximates 5% to 15% in non-epidemic periods but may approach 50% to 95% during epidemics. The carriage rate is also increased when there is crowding, such as in military barracks, dormitories, prisons, convocations, and sporting events. The oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal carriage may persist for several weeks to several months as part of the normal nasopharyngeal flora. Sexual transmission of meningococci in women and homosexual men may result in anogenital carriage.
Most cases of disease (e.g., bacteremia, meningitis) occur in children between 6 months and 5 years of age (Figure 143.1). However, case-fatality rates are highest in the 15- to 24-year age group. With rare exceptions, invasive meningococci have a polysaccharide capsule that forms the basis for serogrouping of strains, and, except for serogroup B, is the principal bacterial antigen to which protective immunity develops (see below). Invasive disease occurs almost exclusively in persons who lack specific bactericidal anti-meningococcal antibody to the invading meningococcal strain.
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- Clinical Infectious Disease , pp. 935 - 941Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2015