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Acute cellulitis: an unusual manifestation of meningococcal disease

M C Porras1, V C Martínez, I M Ruiz

  • 1Service of Internal Medicine, Hospital of Laredo, Cantabria, Spain.

Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
|March 10, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Neisseria meningitidis can cause cellulitis, particularly in children and adults with underlying conditions. Prompt antibiotic treatment leads to favorable outcomes without relapses.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Bacteriology
  • Dermatology

Background:

  • Cellulitis is a common bacterial skin infection, typically caused by Staphylococcus or Streptococcus.
  • Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) is primarily known for causing meningitis and sepsis.

Observation:

  • This study reviews 10 cases of cellulitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis, including 2 new cases and 8 previously reported.
  • The majority of patients were female (8:2 ratio), with an equal distribution of children (5) and adults (5).
  • Commonly affected sites included the periorbital region in children, and limbs or neck in adults.

Findings:

  • Serogroup C was the most frequent cause (4 cases), followed by serogroup B (2 cases) and serogroup Y (2 cases).
  • Four adult patients had diverse underlying medical conditions.
  • All 10 patients responded well to antibiotic therapy, with no reported relapses.

Implications:

  • Neisseria meningitidis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cellulitis, especially in pediatric periorbital infections and adults with comorbidities.
  • Early recognition and appropriate antibiotic treatment are crucial for managing meningococcal cellulitis effectively.
  • This highlights the broader spectrum of clinical manifestations caused by Neisseria meningitidis beyond its typical presentations.

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