Organism Characteristics:
Bacteria Form: Gram negative diplococci (intracellular, lives in neutrophils in CSF) Family:
Virulence mechanisms:
- adhesins
- porins
- Immune evasion
- LOS
Resistances:
Infection
Areas colonised in the body (Microbiomes):
In the respiratory microbiome (5-15%)
Transmission occurs with respiratory aerosols from carrier to nonimmune. You will either become a carrier or develop disease (a small number do develop disease)
This is a highly transmissible spread with carriage rate of 80% in outbreak, Carriage rate are highest in infects adn adolescents who are most at risk,
Clinical
Associated illnesses:
Meningitis (and general CNS infection)
Testing and identifications:
Treatment and therapy:
Comments:
This is a notifiable disease. See meningitis case tutorial.