Meningococcemia Causes and Risks:
Neisseria meningitidis occurs frequently in the respiratory tract with no evidence of illness. Some event is thought to trigger the aggressive behavior of the organism and sporadic cases of Meningococcemia and Meningococcal meningitis appear. Family members and those closely exposed to an infected individual are at increased risk. The estimated annual incidence in the U.S. is about 1 out of 100,000 people. The infection occurs more frequently in winter and early spring and is most common in children under 5 years old. It is transmitted from person to person by droplet spread.
Prevention:
Prophylaxis (preventive antibiotics) for family members and contacts is recommended. Rifampin is the antibiotic of choice. Adults get 600 milligrams (mg) per day for 4 days. Children over 1 month old get 20 mg per kilogram of body weight per day, children under 1 month old get 10 mg per kilogram of body weight per day for 4 days.
Symptoms:
Symptoms may be very few at first: - fever
- petechial rash
- irritability
- anxious appearing
Later symptoms and signs - appears acutely ill
- changing level of consciousness
- shock
- large areas of hemorrhage and/or thrombosis under the skin
Signs and Tests:
Treatment:
Patients are admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital. Intensive monitoring and treatment are needed.
Supportive measures for shock include: Medications include intravenous (IV) aqueous penicillin for antibiotic therapy to eliminate the infection, and high doses of corticosteroids for shock (must be given early). Clotting factors or platelet replacement may be needed if bleeding disorders develop.
Other treatments: - wound care for thrombosed areas of skin
- respiratory isolation for first 24 hours
Prognosis:
Early treatment results in a good outcome. When shock develops, the outcome is more guarded. Profound shock, DIC (a severe bleeding disorder ), and adrenal collapse all predispose the patient to a poor prognosis with possibility of a death. The absence of meningitis tends to have a poorer prognosis.
Complications:
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call your health care provider immediately or go to the emergency room if your child has symptoms suggestive of meningococcemia.
Meningococcemia is a life-threatening infection that occurs when the meningococcus, Neisseria meningitidis, invades the blood stream. There is usually bleeding into the skin (petechiae and purpura), and the tissue in these areas may die (become necrotic or gangrenous). If the patient survives, the areas heal with scarring. This picture demonstrates more hemorrhage and little tissue death.
Meningococcemia is a life-threatening infection that occurs when the bacteria, Neisseria meningitidis, invades the blood stream. Bleeding into the skin (petechiae and purpura) typically occurs and the tissue may die (become necrotic or gangrenous). If the patient survives, the areas heal with scarring.
Meningococcemia is a life-threatening infection that occurs when the bacteria, Neisseria meningitidis, invades the blood stream. There is usually bleeding into the skin ( petechiae and purpura). The tissue may die (become necrotic or gangrenous). If the patient survives, the areas heal with scarring.
Meningococcemia is a life-threatening infection that occurs when the bacteria, Neisseria meningitidis, invades the blood stream. Bleeding into the skin (petechiae and purpura) usually occurs and the tissue may die (become necrotic or gangrenous). If the patient survives, the areas heal with scarring.
Necrosis can occur any time there is abnormal coagulation within the blood vessels. In this person, all circulation to the toes and front part of the foot has ceased and gangrene has developed in the toes. This condition in infants may follow infection with meningococci, generalized sepsis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Purpura is a condition characterized by bleeding into the skin or other tissue. Purpura fulminans is a rapidly progressive form of purpura. It usually occurs in children and frequently results in death. This picture shows a critically ill child with purpura fulminans on the lower extremities.
Infection by the meningococcus organism causes damage to the blood vessels with subsequent clotting within the vessels. This causes loss of blood flow to tissue, which results in discoloration and tissue death.
Insufficient blood flow has caused tissue death (necrosis) and gangrene of the middle two toes, which have become black.
Meningococcemia is a life-threatening infection that occurs when the meningococcus, Neisseria meningitidis, invades the blood stream. There is usually bleeding into the skin (petechiae and purpura), and the tissue in these areas may die (become necrotic or gangrenous). If the patient survives, the areas heal with scarring.
Meningococcemia is a life-threatening infection that occurs when the meningococcus, Neisseria meningitidis, invades the blood stream. Bleeding into the skin (petechiae and purpura) may occur. The tissue in areas may die (become necrotic or gangrenous). If the person survives, the areas heal with scarring.
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