Neisseria meningitidis
Neisseria meningitidis
Meningococcal Disease
ABOUT
Meningococcal disease is an acute bacterial infection. The main forms of the disease are meningitis (infection of the fluid and linings around the brain and spinal cord) and meningococcal bacteremia (severe illness with presence of bacteria in the blood).
Meningococcal
Disease Factsheet
CAUSE
Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus). These bacteria are found only in humans. There are multiple meningococcal serogroups (types), but the most important of these are A, B, C, W, X, & Y. These 6 serotypes are the only ones that can cause illness. In the United States, the serotypes B, C, and Y cause the majority of meningococcal cases.
With meningococcal meningitis, the bacteria infect the spinal cord and lining of the brain, causing swelling. Meningococcal sepsis occurs when the bacteria infect the bloodstream, damaging the walls of the blood vessels and causing bleeding into the skin and other organs.
SYMPTOMS
Meningitis is characterized by high fever, headache, and stiff neck. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, confusion, sleepiness, and photophobia (sensitivity to light).
Sepsis causes high fever, low blood pressure, and severe tiredness. Meningococcal sepsis is sometimes associated with a characteristic rash caused by bleeding into the skin, which appears as pinpoint spots that do not lose color when pressed or patches of bluish discoloration that look like bruises.
TRANSMISSION
Meningococcal bacteria are spread through close contact by droplets of saliva from an infected patient or an asymptomatic carrier. Droplets may spread through kissing, sharing eating utensils or drinks, or possibly by cigarettes, toothbrushes, lip balm, etc. Meningococci are not spread during casual contact or by simply being in the same room with an infected person, although intensely crowded conditions may enhance spread.
RISK GROUPS
Groups at increased risk of meningococcal disease include people who live in the same house as a patient, people who live in group settings like college dormitories, people without a functioning spleen or with persistent complement component deficiency (a specific immune system disorder), and people living with an HIV infection. Rates of meningococcal disease are highest during infancy, then fall during childhood, and rise again during adolescence.
RESOURCES FOR MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE INFORMATION
Georgia Dept. of Public Health: Acute Disease Epidemiology Section: Invasive Bacterial Diseases:
https://dph.georgia.gov/invasive-bacterial-diseases
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: Meningococcal Disease:
https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/index.html
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: The Pink Book Home: Meningococcal Disease:
https://www.cdc.gov/pinkbook/hcp/table-of-contents/chapter-14-meningococcal-disease.html
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: About Meningococcal Vaccines
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mening/hcp/about-vaccine.html
Georgia Immunization Section:
https://dph.georgia.gov/immunization-section
Isolates
All hospitals and labs are encouraged to promptly submit* isolates of Neisseria meningitidis to:
Georgia Public Health Laboratory
Bacteriology Unit
1749 Clairmont Road
Decatur, GA 30033
The following form is to be used when submitting isolates:
- In the Atlanta Metro Statistical Area (MSA), isolates are picked up by EIP personnel.
More about Neisseria meningitidis:
ACIP Recommendations: Prevention and Control of Meningococcal Disease (May 27, 2005/Vol. 54/No. RR-7
Public
Health Nurse Protocol Manual 2012 (Other Infectious Diseases)
Updated 2/16/2024