Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026
10:03
Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery
Published on: November 5, 2019
Antibiotics for preventing meningococcal infections.
Anca Zalmanovici Trestioreanu1, Abigail Fraser, Anat Gafter-Gvili
1Department of Family Medicine, Beilinson Campus, Rabin Medical Center, 39 Jabotinski Street, Petah Tikva, Israel, 49100.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|August 12, 2011
Summary
Ciprofloxacin, rifampin, minocycline, and penicillin effectively eradicate Neisseria meningitidis. However, rifampin use may lead to resistant strains, suggesting ciprofloxacin or ceftriaxone as alternatives for meningococcal disease prophylaxis.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Meningococcal disease, caused by Neisseria meningitidis, poses a high risk to household contacts.
- Prophylaxis is crucial for close contacts and populations with high carriage rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of various antibiotic regimens for meningococcal disease prophylaxis.
- To assess the efficacy of different treatments in eradicating Neisseria meningitidis.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs.
- Searched multiple databases including CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and LILACS.
- Analyzed dichotomous data using risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Main Results:
- No meningococcal disease cases were reported in trials, preventing direct assessment of disease prevention effectiveness.
- Ciprofloxacin, rifampin, minocycline, and penicillin demonstrated effectiveness in eradicating N. meningitidis one week post-treatment compared to placebo.
- Rifampin, ciprofloxacin, and penicillin remained effective at one to two weeks; rifampin showed efficacy up to four weeks but with emerging resistant isolates.
- Ceftriaxone was more effective than rifampin at one to two weeks, though not directly compared to placebo.
Conclusions:
- Rifampin use during outbreaks may promote resistant Neisseria meningitidis strains.
- Ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and penicillin are recommended alternatives for prophylaxis.
- Further trials are needed to compare the long-term effectiveness of these agents in eradicating N. meningitidis.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Bacterial 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...
01:22Bacterial 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...
01:26Bacterial 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...
01:27Cryptococcal 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,...
01:25Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
01:23Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis
Bacterial cell walls are typically rigid structures composed mainly of peptidoglycan, a mesh-like polymer that provides mechanical strength and maintains cell shape. The synthesis of peptidoglycan is a crucial process in bacterial growth and serves as a primary target for many antibiotics.Mechanism of Action of Beta-Lactam AntibioticsBeta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis in actively growing cells. These antibiotics share a characteristic four-membered...