A case of chronic meningococcemia with unusual features

A patient with chronic meningococcemia with the unusual features of subungual splinter hemorrhages, a pericardial friction rub, and a culture positive skin lesion is presented. Group specific and homologous antibody responses were absent and the nitroblue tetrazolium test for infection was negative. The clinical features and the difficulty in explaining the mechanism of the relatively benign course that characterizes this disease are discussed.