Neisseria meningitidis, often referred to as meningococcus, is a gramnegative bacterium that. In this chapter we provide an overview of the disease caused by n. St4789 has been encountered only once previously, in dhaka, bangladesh. See bacterial meningitis in children older than one. Description and nomenclature of neisseria meningitidis. The fact that this bacteria is gram negative means that there is very little or no peptidoglycan in the cell wall. Meningitis is an acute inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. Meningococcal meningitis, caused by neisseria meningitidis, is one version for which vaccines are available. See epidemiology of neisseria meningitidis infection and bacterial meningitis in children older than one month.
Because transmission of n meningitidis results mainly in asymptomatic carriage, evaluation of oropharyngeal carriage can be helpful to understand the epidemiology and transmission of n meningitidis and, in. Neisseria meningitidis, identification and grouping provider requirements isolate submission required. The epidemiology and serogroup distribution can change very quickly. Most patients with meningococcal meningitis, caused by the gramnegative diplococcus neisseria meningitidis, recover completely if appropriate antibiotic therapy is instituted promptly. However, the proportion of cases caused by each serogroup varies by age group.
Clients who are identified as exposed contacts and recommended to receive postexposure prophylaxis should be directed to an appropriate resource to receive their pep. Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Ihr kind kontakt zu einer an einer invasiven meningokokkenmeningitis erkrankten per son hatten. An overview of neisseria meningitidis springerlink. Neisseria meningitidis about neisseria meningitidis is a bacterium hosted only by humans and is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in the united states. Neisseria meningitidis advanced methods and protocols. Thirteen capsular polysaccharides have been described, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy has enabled determination of the structure of capsular polysaccharides responsible for serogroup specificity. Neisseria meningitidis an overview sciencedirect topics. Chapter 7 identification and characterization of neisseria. It more commonly causes pneumonia or ear or sinus infections. Neisseria meningitidis is a gramnegative diplococcal bacterium that can harmlessly inhabit the human nasopharynx. A bactericidal assay is described which allows identification of distinct serotypes within a serogroup of neisseria meningitidis. This bacterium is another leading cause of bacterial meningitis.
Neisseria meningitidis meningokokken, semmelformig gelager te, bekapselte. A sample of spinal fluid, usually collected by a spinal tap, is needed to find out if someone has meningitis and to see what caused it. Neisseria meningitidis, identification and grouping. There are a number of viral and bacterial causes of meningitis, but neisseria meningitidis is the most common cause of the more serious bacterial meningitis in children who are most susceptible to the disease, and one of the most common in adults. Neisseria meningitidis is a bacteria that is best known for its role in endemic bacterial meningitis. Routine throat or nasopharyngeal culture of contacts is not helpful in determining who warrants chemoprophylaxis. As an exclusively human pathogen it is the main cause of bacterial meningitis in. It causes the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord to become inflamed. There are more than 500,000 reported cases of meningococcal disease per year, with an estimated annual death toll of 5,000 zimmer and stephens 2004. Antisera produced in rabbits against seven group c strains by two intravenous inoculations of live organisms were found to contain two types of bactericidal antibodies. This pathogen may also cause overwhelming sepsis, purpura fulminans, or rarely benign meningococcemia. Neisseria meningitidis causes, symptoms, diagnosis. Meningitis is inflammation of the thin tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, called the meninges.
Characterization of strains of neisseria meningitidis causing. Meningococcal meningitis is an acute form of bacterial meningitis caused by neisseria meningitidis. Meningitis is a severe infection of the bloodstream and meninges a thin lining covering the brain. During periods of endemic disease, about 10 % of the general population harbour neisseria meningitidis in the nasopharynx. Meningitis is a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, the meninges.
New classification of neisseria meningitidis by means of. The bacteria are able to multiply and form a colony because of its ability to acquire iron from the host. Meningococcal meningitis north dakota department of health. Chemoprophylaxis of healthcare workers exposed to neisseria meningitidis 11 recommendations for the management of laboratory worker exposed to n. Household transmission of neisseria meningitidis in the. This bacteriology lecture will explain the general properties of neisseria meningitidis and it also explains the disease, pathogenesis, and treatment of neisseria meningitidis infection. Pathogenic neisseria meningitidis isolates contain a polysaccharide capsule that is the main virulence determinant for this bacterium. Young children often exhibit only nonspecific symptoms, such as. Meningococcal disease, purpura fulminans, meningitis, neisseria meningitidis. Meningococcal disease neisseria meningitidis disease. Learn more about how you get meningitis, its symptoms, and how its treated at webmd. Even if treated quickly, meningococcal disease can cause longterm problems or be deadly. Invasive neisseria meningitis facts for health professionals surveillance invasive disease caused by neisseria meningitidis includes meningitis, septicemia, and other infections.
Meningococcal disease is a contagious infection spread by close contact, such as living with or kissing an infected person. It is quite contagious, and often spreads through groups of close quartered individuals such as. This bacterium is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in infants, young children and adults in the united states. Meningococcal disease caused by the gram negative diplococcus neisseria. Meningitidis is described as a gramnegative diplococci. Patients with acute infection can present clinically with 1 meningitis, 2 meningitis with meningococcemia, or 3 meningococcemia without obvious meningitis. Approximately 60% of disease among children 059 months is caused by serogroup b n.
For reasons not completely understood, meningococci can invade the mucous membrane and gain access to the bloodstream, leading to meningitis, severe sepsis, or localised infections involving the joints or heart. Neisseria meningitidis or meningococcus is a gramnegative, oxidasepositive, aerobic, coccal bacterium that appears microscopically under diplococcal arrangement. Pdf on jan 1, 2018, yoo na kim and others published neonatal sepsis and meningitis caused by neisseria meningitidis serogroup b. Laboratory methods for the diagnosis of meningitis caused by neisseria meningitidis, streptococcus pneumoniae, and. Most carrier isolates are shown to lack capsule production. Beschwerden im nasen rachenraum, dann plotz lich auftretende meningitis mit kopfschmerzen. Neisseria meningitidis the meningococcus is a member of the normal nasopharyngeal microbiome in healthy individuals, but can cause septicemia and meningitis in susceptible individuals. Serotyp w nimmt in westlichen landern zu, pdfdatei. Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent meningococcal disease.
There are two clinical forms of meningococcal disease. You get it when a virus enters the body through the nose or mouth and travels. Pdf neisseria meningitidis is hosted only by humans and colonizes the nasopharynx. Neisseria meningitidis is a gramnegative human pathogen that can cause severe meningitis and septicemia with symptoms that can worsen rapidly. It can be caused by a variety of organisms that include bacteria, fungi or viruses. Nonetheless, the disease still is associated with a high mortality rate and persistent neurologic defects, particularly among infants and young children. Meningococcal disease can refer to any illness that is caused by a type of bacteria called neisseria meningitidis. The most common symptoms are fever, headache, and neck stiffness. Meningococcal disease can lead to meningitis or bloodstream infection. M2406 was st4789 in the st5 clonal complex, isolated from a person who had immigrated many years previously from romania. Neisseria meningitidis, often referred to as meningococcus, is a gramnegative bacterium that can cause meningitis and other forms of meningococcal disease such as meningococcemia, a lifethreatening sepsis.
It is a serious condition that can be life threatening. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. The epidemiology of neisseria meningitidis is dynamic, with risk of meningococcal disease varying widely by region and depending on a confluence of host, organism, and environmental factors. Many different kinds of viruses and bacteria germs can cause meningitis. The bacterium is referred to as a coccus because it is round, and more specifically, diplococcus because of its tendency to form pairs. Quick medical attention is extremely important if meningococcal disease is suspected. Meningococcal disease has two common outcomes meningitis and bloodstream infection. Neisseria meningitidis haemophilus influenzae streptococcus pneumoniae streptococcus pyogenes group a strep neisseria meningitidis is immediately reportable on first knowledge or suspicion of the diagnosis due to the potential need for prophylaxis of close contacts within 24 hours of suspected diagnosis suspicion is. Neisseria meningitidis is a common cause of communityacquired bacterial meningitis in children and adults in the united states and in many other countries. Neisseria meningitidis meningococcal disease 1 neisseria meningitidis meningococcal disease i. Neisseria meningitidis are bacteria that can cause illness in people of any age. Acceptable specimen sourcestypes for submission culture isolate isolates from normally sterile sites tdh requisition form number ph4182 media requirements chocolate slant special instructions shipping instructions. Abcs personnel routinely contacted all microbiology laboratories serving acute care hospitals in their area to identify cases.
Meningococcemia is defined as dissemination of meningococci neisseria meningitidis into the bloodstream see the image below. Neisseria meningitidis is a major causative agent, worldwide, of potentially lifethreatening meningitis and septicaemia, which carry with them a high mortality rate and permanent physical and neurological issues for survivors. Meningococcal meningitis is a rare but serious bacterial infection. Who laboratory methods for the diagnosis of meningitis. Neisseria meningitidis is a gramnegative diplococcus bacterium that is responsible for endemic and epidemic meningococcal meningitis and fulminant meningococcemia munford 2001. Meningitis and septicemia constitute the majority of cases of meningococcal disease. In children and teens, meningococcus is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis. Rocephin children and adults two to 50 years of age. Clinical features and diagnosis, section on causative organisms and. Meningitis, meningococcal meningitis, meningococcal septicemia. Meningococcal meningitis, meningococcal infection, cerebrospinal fever, meningococcemia. Other symptoms include confusion or altered consciousness, vomiting, and an inability to tolerate light or loud noises. Infection with neisseria meningitidis can produce a variety of clinical manifestations, ranging from transient fever and bacteremia to fulminant disease with death ensuing within hours of the onset of clinical symptoms. Yes, there is a vaccine for several types of bacterial meningitis.
Laboratory methods for the diagnosis of meningitis caused by neisseria meningitidis, streptococcus pneumoniae, and haemophilus influenzae. Neisseria meningitidis is a gramnegative diplococci spheres clumped in pairs bacteria. Neisseria meningitidis is immediately reportable on first knowledge or suspicion of the diagnosis due to the potential need for prophylaxis of close contacts within 24 hours of suspected diagnosis suspicion is normally based on gram stain results see table on page 4. Diagnosis, initial management, and prevention of meningitis. Meningococcal infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, therefore understanding their molecular biology is crucial to develop therapeutics such as vaccines. Pdf neonatal sepsis and meningitis caused by neisseria. Laboratory methods for the diagnosis of meningitis caused. Neisseria meningitidis georgia department of public health. Serogroups b, c, and y are the major causes of meningococcal disease in the united states, each accounting for approximately one third of cases.
Typing of neisseria meningitidis by wholegenome analysis. The bacterium neisseria meningitidis, also called meningococcus, causes meningococcal meningitis. Neisseria meningitidis will attach to the microvilli of nonciliated columnar epithelial cells that reside in the nasal region of humans. Strains are serogrouped on the basis of their capsular polysaccharides.
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