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Introduction and epidemiology of meningococcal disease

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Handbook of Meningococcal Disease Management

Abstract

Neisseria meningitidis, the meningococcus, is a Gram-negative diplococcal bacterium that is only found naturally in humans. The meningococcus is part of the normal microbiota of the human nasopharynx and is commonly carried in healthy individuals (Chapter 2). In rare cases systemic invasion occurs, which can lead to meningitis and/or septicemia. Other clinical manifestations of meningococcal infection include pneumonia, urethritis, conjunctivitis, septic arthritis, and pericarditis.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Caroline Trotter

  2. University College London, London, UK

    Mary Ramsay

  3. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA

    Lee Harrison

Authors
  1. Caroline Trotter
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  2. Mary Ramsay
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. NI for Biological Standards and Con, South Mimms, Potters Bar, United Kingdom

    Ian Feavers

  2. University of Oxford, Department of Paediatrics, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

    Andrew J Pollard

  3. University of Oxford, Department of Paediatrics, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

    Manish Sadarangani

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Trotter, C., Ramsay, M., Harrison, L. (2016). Introduction and epidemiology of meningococcal disease. In: Feavers, I., Pollard, A., Sadarangani, M. (eds) Handbook of Meningococcal Disease Management. Adis, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28119-3_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28119-3_1

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  • Publisher Name: Adis, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-08627-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28119-3

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