What is meningococcal septicemia?

Meningococcal septicemia (aka meningococcemia) Doctors call septicemia (a bloodstream infection) caused by Neisseria meningitidis meningococcal septicemia or meningococcemia. When someone has meningococcal septicemia, the bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply, damaging the walls of the blood vessels.

What is meningococcal septicemia?

Meningococcal septicemia (aka meningococcemia) Doctors call septicemia (a bloodstream infection) caused by Neisseria meningitidis meningococcal septicemia or meningococcemia. When someone has meningococcal septicemia, the bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply, damaging the walls of the blood vessels.

Is Neisseria meningitidis commensal?

Neisseria meningitidis is a harmless commensal bacterium finely adapted to humans. Unfortunately, under “privileged” conditions, it adopts a “devious” lifestyle leading to uncontrolled behavior characterized by the unleashing of molecular weapons causing potentially lethal disease such as sepsis and acute meningitis.

How is meningococcal meningitis transmitted?

It spreads from person-to-person by coughing or coming into close or lengthy contact with someone who is sick or who carries the bacteria. Contact includes kissing, sharing drinks, or living together. Up to one in 10 people carry meningococcal bacteria in their nose or throat without getting sick.

What is streptococcal meningitis?

Streptococcal meningitis is an acute inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord caused by bacteria from the streptococcal species. Bacterial meningitis is a severe and life-threatening infection that may lead to death, especially when treatment initiation is overdue.

How common is meningococcal sepsis?

Also called meningococcemia, meningococcal septicaemia is a rare disease, but one you want to recognize quickly. Meningococcal septicaemia can cause death in a matter of hours. Early treatment can help prevent life-threatening or debilitating complications and lead to a full recovery.

Is Neisseria meningitidis intracellular or extracellular?

Abstract. To cause meningitis the extracellular pathogen Neisseria meningitidis has to traverse the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (B-CSF) barrier. Postulating a transcellular passage, meningococci (MC) have been shown to adhere to and enter B-CSF barrier forming human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC).

Is Neisseria meningitidis Cocci?

Meningococci (Neisseria meningitidis) are gram-negative cocci that cause meningitis and meningococcemia. Symptoms, usually severe, include headache, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, lethargy, rash, multiple organ failure, shock, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Diagnosis is clinical, confirmed by culture.

What are 3 symptoms of meningitis?

Symptoms

  • Sudden high fever.
  • Stiff neck.
  • Severe headache that seems different from normal.
  • Headache with nausea or vomiting.
  • Confusion or difficulty concentrating.
  • Seizures.
  • Sleepiness or difficulty waking.
  • Sensitivity to light.

Is meningococcal fatal?

Meningococcal disease is a rare, but serious and life-threatening, infection. Symptoms appear suddenly and people can die very quickly without medical help. Long-term effects of the disease include: loss of arms and legs.

What is streptococcal endocarditis?

Subacute bacterial endocarditis is usually caused by streptococcal bacteria. This form of the disease usually develops on damaged valves after dental surgery involving infected gums, reproductive or urinary (genitourinary tract) surgery or operations on the gastrointestinal tract.

How do you get Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis?

Share on Pinterest The streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria may be passed via coughing and sneezing. Pneumococcal meningitis occurs when S. pneumoniae enter a person’s bloodstream and infect the fluid surrounding the brain or spine.