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Neisseria meningitidis W135 pneumonia with sepicaemia in a nonogenarian

A M Cadwgan1, A R MacKenzie, R B Laing

  • 1Infection Unit, Aberdeen Royal Infimary Foresterhill.

Scottish Medical Journal
|December 17, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis) infection is rare in the elderly. A nonogenarian developed pneumonia and sinusitis with bacteraemia caused by the rare W135 serogroup.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Geriatric Medicine

Background:

  • Neisseria meningitidis typically affects children and young adults.
  • Classic presentations include meningitis and septicemia.
  • Infections in the elderly are uncommon.

Observation:

  • A case study of a nonogenarian patient is presented.
  • The patient experienced meningococcal pneumonia and sinusitis.
  • Bacteraemia was caused by N. meningitidis serogroup W135.

Findings:

  • N. meningitidis W135, a rare serogroup, caused invasive disease in an elderly individual.
  • Pneumonia and sinusitis were the primary clinical manifestations.
  • The case highlights an unusual presentation of meningococcal infection.

Implications:

  • This case expands the known demographic and clinical spectrum of N. meningitidis infections.
  • It underscores the importance of considering meningococcal disease in elderly patients with respiratory and systemic symptoms.
  • Further research may be warranted on meningococcal serogroup prevalence and disease patterns in geriatric populations.

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