Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery
10:03

Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery

Published on: November 5, 2019

Diagnosis and management of meningococcal disease: the need for centralized care

Simon Nadel1, J Simon Kroll

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK. s.nadel@imperial.ac.uk

FEMS Microbiology Reviews
|January 20, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Meningococcal infection in children is serious but treatable. Early recognition and prompt antibiotic therapy, alongside specialized care, are crucial for reducing mortality and morbidity from this invasive disease.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Meningococcal infection poses a significant threat to children, leading to high mortality and morbidity.
  • Prompt recognition and aggressive early treatment are vital for managing invasive meningococcal disease.
  • Complications like shock and raised intracranial pressure (ICP) require immediate attention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the pathophysiology and management of various presentations of meningococcal disease.
  • To examine the potential role of adjunctive therapies in treating meningococcal infections.
  • To highlight advancements in care that have reduced mortality rates.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on meningococcal infection management.
  • Analysis of factors contributing to reduced mortality.
  • Discussion of treatment protocols and supportive care strategies.

Main Results:

  • Mortality from meningococcal infection has decreased due to improved care.
  • Centralization of care in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) has improved outcomes.
  • Specialized mobile intensive care teams and established treatment protocols enhance management.

Conclusions:

  • Early recognition and immediate antibiotic administration are key to combating invasive meningococcal disease.
  • Advances in pediatric critical care and disseminated guidelines have significantly improved survival rates.
  • Further research into adjunctive therapies may offer additional benefits.

Related Concept Videos

Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
Bacterial Meningitis01:24

Bacterial Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is a severe infectious disease involving inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when pathogenic bacteria cross the blood–brain barrier and enter the cerebrospinal fluid. Common causative organisms include Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli K1. The exact route of entry varies by pathogen and host condition.Routes of Entry...
Viral Meningitis01:18

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever01:26

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...