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Atypical clinical presentation of laboratory-acquired meningococcal disease

Simon Athlin1, Tomas Vikerfors, Hans Fredlund

  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden. simon.athlin@orebroll.se

Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
|September 14, 2007
PubMed

Insights

A laboratory worker contracted meningococcal disease (Neisseria meningitidis) with unusual polyserositis. Diagnosis utilized PCR, highlighting the importance of lab safety protocols.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Case Study

Background:

  • Laboratory-acquired infections pose risks to healthcare professionals.
  • Neisseria meningitidis typically causes meningitis or sepsis, but atypical presentations occur.

Observation:

  • A research assistant developed meningococcal disease with symptoms including polyserositis (inflammation of multiple serous membranes) affecting the knees, pleura, and pericardium.
  • The patient did not present with typical signs of septicemia or meningitis.

Findings:

  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed Neisseria meningitidis (genogroup C, genosubtype P1.7, 16, 35, without penA gene mutations) in synovial fluid from the patient's knee.
  • Serological tests post-recovery supported the diagnosis.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the utility of non-culture-based diagnostic methods like PCR for identifying Neisseria meningitidis.
  • It emphasizes the critical need for stringent safety protocols in laboratory settings handling pathogenic bacteria.
  • Atypical presentations of meningococcal disease require broad diagnostic considerations.

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