 Meningococcal Invasive
(Meningococcemia)
ICD-9 036.0; ICD-10 A39.0
Meningococcal Invasive Disease
Organism, Causative Agent, or Etiologic Agent
Meningococcal invasive disease is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis.
Transmission
The bacteria Neisseria meningitidis spreads by direct contact with respiratory and throat secretions or saliva from person to person through coughing, sneezing, kissing, sharing drinks and immediate sharing of unwashed eating utensils.
Symptoms
Symptoms of meningococcal invasive disease can be different depending on the type of infection the bacteria has caused. The most common symptoms are high fever, chills, drowsiness, and a rash. Symptoms of meningococcal meningitis may include headache, fever, and stiffness of the neck, sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, visual sensitivity to light or mental confusion. In newborns and small infants, the classic symptoms of fever, headache, and neck stiffness may appear slow or inactive, have vomiting, be irritable, or be feeding poorly. The symptoms of meningococcemia (infection in the bloodstream) may include a sudden onset of fever and a rash of small purplish spots.
Complications of meningococcal invasive disease can result in permanent hearing loss, brain damage, loss of limbs, and death.
The following groups of people are at high risk for meningococcal invasive disease:
infants and young children, International travelers to places where meningococcal disease is common, household contacts of people who are sick with meningococcal disease, people who live in close quarters with others including military recruits and college students who live in dormitories, microbiologist who work with isolates of N. meningitidis, people with a damaged or missing spleen, people with an immune system disorder, people exposed to tobacco smoke either directly or second hand
Prevention
There is a vaccine that offers protection against four of the five serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis. The meningococcal conjugate vaccine and polysaccharide vaccine are available in the United States.
Maintaining healthy habits like getting plenty of rest and not coming into close contact with people who are sick can also help prevent infection. Using good health practices such as covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and washing your hands frequently with soap and water can also help stop the spread of the bacteria.
 Recent Texas Trends
For the past five years the number of meningococcal disease cases for Texas have ranged from 45 reports in 2006 to 59 reports in 2010. On average we expect approximately 56 cases to be reported every year. The highest percentage of cases have been reported in the following age (by years) groups: 15% in the under 1 age group, 17% in the 20 to 29 age group, and 17% in the 60 and over age group. Of the 282 cases reported since 2006, 11% have resulted in death.
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