BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuMeningococcemiaMeningococcal septicemia; Meningococcal blood poisoning; Meningococcal bacteremiaMeningococcemia is an acute and potentially life-threatening infection of the bloodstream.AcuteAcute means sudden. Acute symptoms appear, change, or worsen rapidly. It is the opposite of chronic.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Meningococcemia is caused by bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. The bacteria often live in a person's upper respiratory tract without causing signs of illness. They can be spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. For example, you may become infected if you are around someone with the condition and they sneeze or cough.Family members and those closely exposed to someone with the condition are at increased risk. The infection occurs more often in winter and early spring. Symptoms Some of the initial symptoms include:Fever Headache Irritability Muscle pain Nausea Rash with very small red or purple spots on the feet or legsLater symptoms may include:A decline in your level of consciousness Decline in your level of consciousnessDecreased alertness is a state of reduced awareness and is often a serious condition. A coma is the most severe state of decreased alertness in which...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Large areas of bleeding under the skin ShockShockShock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow means the cells and organs do n...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests Your health care provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms.Blood tests will be done to check for other infections and help confirm meningococcemia. Such tests may include:Blood culture Blood cultureA blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other germs in a blood sample.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Complete blood count with white cell differential Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blood clotting studies Other tests that may be done include:Lumbar puncture to get a sample of cerebrospinal fluid for Gram stain and culture Lumbar punctureCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection is a test to look at the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. CSF acts as a cushion, protecting the b...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Gram stainA Gram stain is a test used to identify bacteria. It is one of the most common ways to quickly diagnose bacterial infection in the body.Read Article Now Book Mark Article CultureA cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture is a lab test to look for bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the fluid that moves in the space around the spinal cor...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Skin biopsy and Gram stain and culture Skin biopsyA skin lesion biopsy is when a small amount of skin is removed so it can be examined under a microscope. The skin is tested to look for skin conditi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Urine analysisUrine analysisUrinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Meningococcemia is a medical emergency. People with this infection are often admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital, where they are closely monitored. They may be placed in respiratory isolation for the first 24 hours to help prevent the spread of the infection to others.Treatments may include:Antibiotics given through a vein immediately Breathing support Clotting factors or platelet replacement, if bleeding disorders develop Bleeding disordersBleeding disorders are a group of conditions in which there is a problem with the body's blood clotting process. These disorders can lead to heavy a...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Fluids through a vein Medicines to treat low blood pressure Wound care for areas of skin with blood clots Outlook (Prognosis) Early treatment results in a good outcome. When shock develops, the outcome is less certain.The condition is most life threatening in those who develop:A severe bleeding disorder called disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy...Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a serious disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become overactive.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney failure Shock Possible Complications Possible complications of this infection are:Arthritis ArthritisArthritis is inflammation or degeneration of one or more joints. A joint is the area where 2 bones meet. There are more than 100 different types of...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Bleeding disorder (DIC) Gangrene due to lack of blood supply GangreneGangrene is the death of tissue in part of the body.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Inflammation of blood vessels in the skin Inflammation of the heart muscle Inflammation of the heart lining Shock Severe damage to the adrenal glands that can lead to low blood pressure (Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome) Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndromeWaterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome (WFS) is a group of symptoms caused when the adrenal glands fail to function normally. This occurs as a result of b...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Go to the emergency room immediately if you have symptoms of meningococcemia. Contact your provider if you have been around someone with the disease. Prevention Preventive antibiotics for family members and other close contacts are often recommended. Contact your provider about this option.A vaccine that covers some, but not all, strains of meningococcus is recommended for children age 11 or 12. A booster is given at age 16. Unvaccinated college students who live in dormitories should also consider receiving this vaccine. It should be given a few weeks before they first move into the dorm. Talk to your provider about this vaccine.VaccineAll content below is taken in its entirety from the CDC Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine Information Statement (VIS): www. cdc. gov/vaccines/hcp/current-vi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesMarquez L. Meningococcal disease. In: Cherry JD, Harrison GJ, Kaplan SL, Steinbach WJ, Hotez PJ, eds. Feigin and Cherry's Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 88.Stephens DS, Apicella MA. Neisseria meningitidis. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 211.Stephens DS. Neisseria meningitidis infections. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 274.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Acute(Special Topic)Hypersensitivity vasculitis(Condition)Respiratory(Special Topic)Meningococcal meningitis(Condition)Bleeding disorders(Condition)Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome(Condition)Arthritis(Condition)Pericarditis(Condition)Osteoarthritis - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 11/10/2024 Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Roy and Diana Vagelos Professor in Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, New York, NY. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 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MeningococcemiaMeningococcal septicemia; Meningococcal blood poisoning; Meningococcal bacteremiaMeningococcemia is an acute and potentially life-threatening infection of the bloodstream.AcuteAcute means sudden. Acute symptoms appear, change, or worsen rapidly. It is the opposite of chronic.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Meningococcemia is caused by bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. The bacteria often live in a person's upper respiratory tract without causing signs of illness. They can be spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. For example, you may become infected if you are around someone with the condition and they sneeze or cough.Family members and those closely exposed to someone with the condition are at increased risk. The infection occurs more often in winter and early spring. Symptoms Some of the initial symptoms include:Fever Headache Irritability Muscle pain Nausea Rash with very small red or purple spots on the feet or legsLater symptoms may include:A decline in your level of consciousness Decline in your level of consciousnessDecreased alertness is a state of reduced awareness and is often a serious condition. A coma is the most severe state of decreased alertness in which...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Large areas of bleeding under the skin ShockShockShock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow. Lack of blood flow means the cells and organs do n...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests Your health care provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms.Blood tests will be done to check for other infections and help confirm meningococcemia. Such tests may include:Blood culture Blood cultureA blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other germs in a blood sample.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Complete blood count with white cell differential Complete blood countA complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blood clotting studies Other tests that may be done include:Lumbar puncture to get a sample of cerebrospinal fluid for Gram stain and culture Lumbar punctureCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection is a test to look at the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. CSF acts as a cushion, protecting the b...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Gram stainA Gram stain is a test used to identify bacteria. It is one of the most common ways to quickly diagnose bacterial infection in the body.Read Article Now Book Mark Article CultureA cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture is a lab test to look for bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the fluid that moves in the space around the spinal cor...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Skin biopsy and Gram stain and culture Skin biopsyA skin lesion biopsy is when a small amount of skin is removed so it can be examined under a microscope. The skin is tested to look for skin conditi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Urine analysisUrine analysisUrinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Meningococcemia is a medical emergency. People with this infection are often admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital, where they are closely monitored. They may be placed in respiratory isolation for the first 24 hours to help prevent the spread of the infection to others.Treatments may include:Antibiotics given through a vein immediately Breathing support Clotting factors or platelet replacement, if bleeding disorders develop Bleeding disordersBleeding disorders are a group of conditions in which there is a problem with the body's blood clotting process. These disorders can lead to heavy a...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Fluids through a vein Medicines to treat low blood pressure Wound care for areas of skin with blood clots Outlook (Prognosis) Early treatment results in a good outcome. When shock develops, the outcome is less certain.The condition is most life threatening in those who develop:A severe bleeding disorder called disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy...Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a serious disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become overactive.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney failure Shock Possible Complications Possible complications of this infection are:Arthritis ArthritisArthritis is inflammation or degeneration of one or more joints. A joint is the area where 2 bones meet. There are more than 100 different types of...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Bleeding disorder (DIC) Gangrene due to lack of blood supply GangreneGangrene is the death of tissue in part of the body.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Inflammation of blood vessels in the skin Inflammation of the heart muscle Inflammation of the heart lining Shock Severe damage to the adrenal glands that can lead to low blood pressure (Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome) Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndromeWaterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome (WFS) is a group of symptoms caused when the adrenal glands fail to function normally. This occurs as a result of b...Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional Go to the emergency room immediately if you have symptoms of meningococcemia. Contact your provider if you have been around someone with the disease. Prevention Preventive antibiotics for family members and other close contacts are often recommended. Contact your provider about this option.A vaccine that covers some, but not all, strains of meningococcus is recommended for children age 11 or 12. A booster is given at age 16. Unvaccinated college students who live in dormitories should also consider receiving this vaccine. It should be given a few weeks before they first move into the dorm. Talk to your provider about this vaccine.VaccineAll content below is taken in its entirety from the CDC Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine Information Statement (VIS): www. cdc. gov/vaccines/hcp/current-vi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesMarquez L. Meningococcal disease. In: Cherry JD, Harrison GJ, Kaplan SL, Steinbach WJ, Hotez PJ, eds. Feigin and Cherry's Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 88.Stephens DS, Apicella MA. Neisseria meningitidis. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 211.Stephens DS. Neisseria meningitidis infections. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 274.
