Prevention of meningococcal meningitis

Meningococcal meningitis is an acute, life-threatening infection of the central nervous system characterized by inflammation of the protective meninges covering the brain and spinal cord

It is caused by invasive strains of the gram-negative diplococcus *Neisseria meningitidis*, which colonize the nasopharynx, enter the bloodstream, and cross the blood-brain barrier While it can affect any population, high rates of severe disease occur in infants, adolescents, young adults living in close quarters, and immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with complement deficiencies or asplenia

It is caused by invasive strains of the gram-negative diplococcus *Neisseria meningitidis*, which colonize the nasopharynx, enter the bloodstream, and cross the blood-brain barrier

It is caused by invasive strains of the gram-negative diplococcus *Neisseria meningitidis*, which colonize the nasopharynx, enter the bloodstream, and cross the blood-brain barrier Clinically marked by the rapid onset of high fever, severe headache, nuchal rigidity, altered mental status, and potentially purpura fulminans, the disease can advance quickly to cerebral edema, neurological deficits, or death

Clinically marked by the rapid onset of high fever, severe headache, nuchal rigidity, altered mental status, and potentially purpura fulminans, the disease can advance quickly to cerebral edema, neurological deficits, or death

Clinically marked by the rapid onset of high fever, severe headache, nuchal rigidity, altered mental status, and potentially purpura fulminans, the disease can advance quickly to cerebral edema, neurological deficits, or death While it can affect any population, high rates of severe disease occur in infants, adolescents, young adults living in close quarters, and immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with complement deficiencies or asplenia

While it can affect any population, high rates of severe disease occur in infants, adolescents, young adults living in close quarters, and immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with complement deficiencies or asplenia