Meningococcemia

• Meningococcemia is a bloodstream infection cause by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis.
• N. meningitidis is a contagious bacterium and is spread from person to person via respiratory secretions.
• Initially, patients present with fever and general aches. A rash is often present. Patients with meningococcemia are seriously ill.
• Complications include shock, failure of multiple organs, lack of circulation to the extremities, and death. Patients may also develop or present with meningitis.
• Meningococcemia is treated with intravenous antibiotics.
• Case fatality rates are as high as 19% in industrialized countries. Early treatment reduces the risk of complications and death.
• A vaccine is available to help prevent four of the five most common serogroups that cause meningococcemia. The vaccine is recommended at 11 years of age, with a booster dose at 16 years of age.
• People who have a certain type of immune deficiency in the complement system and people with missing or damaged spleens are at increased risk and should be vaccinated.
• People who travel to areas where outbreaks are occurring should be vaccinated before travel.
• People who have had close contact with an infected patient (for example, a household member with face-to-face contact, a child's playmate, etc.) should receive antibiotics to reduce the risk of disease. These "prophylactic" antibiotics should be started as soon as possible but certainly within two weeks of exposure.

Source: MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/meningococcemia/article.htm