Meningitis, pneumonitis, and arthritis caused by Neisseria meningitidis group Y

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Bacteriology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y is typically a nasopharyngeal commensal.
• Meningococcal meningitis is a serious infection, but serogroup Y is uncommon in non-military populations.
• Previous literature highlights serogroup Y primarily in invasive disease among military recruits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of invasive disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y in a non-military individual.
• To describe the clinical presentation and outcomes of this unusual infection.
• To contribute to the understanding of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y epidemiology.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a previously healthy woman presenting with systemic symptoms.
• Clinical examination and laboratory investigations, including cerebrospinal fluid analysis.
• Microbiological identification of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y from blood and/or affected sites.

Main Results:

• The patient developed pneumonitis, meningitis, and arthritis.
• Cerebrospinal fluid findings were non-specific.
• The clinical course was consistent with other meningococcal serotypes despite the rare serogroup involvement.

Conclusions:

• Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y can cause severe invasive disease, including meningitis, in previously healthy non-military individuals.
• The clinical presentation may not differ significantly from infections caused by other meningococcal serotypes.
• This case underscores the importance of considering less common serogroups in the differential diagnosis of meningococcal disease.