Meningococcal meningitis is caused by the bacterium, Neisseria meningitidis . This organism is common in the community and exists harmlessly in the throats of many adults and children. It is spread by respiratory droplets from the nose and throat of an infected person. In a small proportion of individuals infection progresses to an acute invasive disease. Symptoms include high temperature, fever, sore neck, headache, vomiting, rash and joint pain.
Treatment is successful in the majority of cases if administered promptly.
In cases of suspected meningococcal disease benzylpenicillin is the drug of choice. Where other causes of bacterial meningitis could be involved ceftriaxone should be used where available 2 . The National Health and Medical Research Council recommends rifampicin chemoprophylaxis for contacts of a case of invasive meningococcal infection 2,3 . Vaccination is only recommended in special circumstances. Most cases of disease in Australia are due to serogroup B, for which no effective vaccine is available 3,4 .