[Antibiotic treatment of invasive meningococcal infections]

ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT OF INVASIVE MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTION. Invasive meningococcal infections (IMI) are extremely severe pathologies that justify very early antibiotic therapy to limit complications and death. Three different situations may arise: 1) clinical suspicion of purpura fulminans in the pre-hospital setting, 2 confirmed or strongly suspected IMI, 3) post-exposure chemoprophylaxis of a patient's contacts. In the first two situations, 3rd generation cephalosporins (C3G), cefotaxime or ceftriaxone are the reference antibiotics, and have the advantage of having an impact on nasopharyngeal carriage of meningococcus. Chemoprophylaxis of contact subjects is based on rifampicin, but ciprofloxacin (subject to retained sensitivity) and C3Gs are possible alternatives.