Herrera GM, Méndez-Sánchez N

Language: Spanish
References: 15
Page: 189-195
PDF size: 108.85 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Neisseria meningitidis is an encapsulated Gram-negative diplococcus and the causative agent of meningococcemia. Acquisition of the organism can result in asymptomatic pharyngeal colonization or invasive disease. Dissemination of meningococci into the bloodstream defines meningococcemia and is a medical emergency, making early recognition of the disease essential. Patients with acute meningococcal infection can present clinically with one of 3 syndromes: meningitis, meningitis with meningococcemia, or meningococcemia without obvious meningitis. Prior to the advent of antibiotics, almost all cases ended in death or marked morbidity.

REFERENCES

1. Barquet N, Domingo P, Cayla JA. Oral Antibiotics and Outcome in Meningococcemia. Arch Intern Med 2000; 160(14): 2220-222.

2. Brasier AR, Macklis JD, Vaughan D et al. Myopericarditis as an initial presentation of meningococcemia. Unusual manifestation of infection with serotype W135. Am J Med 1987; 82(3 Spec No): 641-4.

3. Busund R, Straume B, Revhaug A. Fatal course in severe meningococcemia: clinical predictors and effect of transfusion therapy. Crit Care Med 1993; 21(11): 1699-705.

4. Grob H, Frei R, Tyndall A. [Chronic meningococcemia—a rare, but characteristic disease picture]. Schweiz Med Wochenschr 1998; 128(50): 1988-93.

5. Hardy DJ, Bartholomew WR, Amsterdam D. Pathophysiology of primary meningococcal pericarditis associated with Neisseria meningitidis group C. A case report and review of the literature. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 1986; 4(3): 259-65.

6. Hyszczak R, Bartold KP, Eggleston D. Gangrene associated with meningococcemia. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1988; 151(1): 203-4.

7. Kirsch EA, Barton RP, Kitchen L. Pathophysiology, treatment and outcome of meningococcemia: a review and recent experience. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1996; 15(11): 967-78; quiz 979.

8. Leclerc F, Leteurtre S, Cremer R et al. Do new strategies in meningococcemia produce better outcomes? Crit Care Med 2000; 28(9 Suppl): S60-3.

9. Marotto MS, Marotto PC, Sztajnbok J. Outcome of acute renal failure in meningococcemia. Ren Fail 1997; 19(6): 807-10.

10. Ni H, Knight AI, Cartwright K. Polymerase chain reaction for diagnosis of meningococcal meningitis. Lancet 1992; 340 (8833): 1432-4.

11. Platonov AE, Beloborodov VB, Vershinina IV: [Clinical features of meningococcal infection in subjects with deficient terminal components of complement]. Ter Arkh 1999; 71(11): 14-8.

12. Riedo FX, Plikaytis BD, Broome CV. Epidemiology and prevention of meningococcal disease. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1995; 14(8): 643-57.

13. Salzman MB, Rubin LG. Meningococcemia. Infect Dis Clin North Am 1996; 10(4): 709-25.

14. Schaller RT Jr, Schaller JF. Surgical management of life-threatening and disfiguring sequelae of fulminant meningococcemia. Am J Surg 1986; 151(5): 553-6.

15. Schlossberg D. Fever and rash. Infect Dis Clin North Am 1996; 10(1): 101-10.