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Meningococcemia

Definition:
Meningococcemia is an acute (sudden onset) infection of the bloodstream and subsequent vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels) with the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis.

Alternative Names:
Meningococcal septicemia; Meningococcal blood poisoning; Meningococcal bacteremia or bacterial in the blood

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Neisseria meningitidis frequently lives in the upper respiratory tract with no evidence of illness. Some event is thought to trigger the onset of aggressive behavior of the organism and sporadic cases of meningococcemia and meningococcal meningitis appear.

Family members and those closely exposed to an infected individual are at increased risk. The infection occurs more frequently in winter and early spring. It is transmitted from person-to-person by respiratory droplets.



Review Date: 1/5/2002
Reviewed By: Camille Kotton, M.D., Infectious Diseases Division, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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