This illusion was shattered when the discovery of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in England and France was reported in 1987. Now, Vancomycin- resistant enterococci are being discovered at an alarming rate, with no new last line of defense substitute firmly entrenched on the market. Let us now take a look at the highly debated ethical issue of Meningococcal disease. Meningococcal meningitis, an inflammation of the lining of the spinal cord and brain, is caused by the Neisseria meningitis bacterium. Symptoms of Meningococcal disease occur within 2-10 days after exposure.
Meningococcal disease is very rare.
Each year in the United States, there are about 3,000 meningococcal cases, including 300 deaths. But while the overall meningococcal rates are low, they are rising, especially in the northwest United States. These kids can walk into your office with a mild headache and a low-grade fever, and look like they have the flu, just like the other 50 to 60 people you saw that day . . . The family accused health care workers of being negligent. If used widely among college students, the vaccine is expected to prevent from 14 to 26 cases and up to three deaths from meningococci each year.