Case report

Post-exposure prophylaxis of meningococcal disease

Dragana Jurić ; Zavod za javno zdravstvo Brodsko-posavske županije, Slavonski Brod, Slavonski Brod, Hrvatska
Marica Miletić-Medved ; Zavod za javno zdravstvo Brodsko-posavske županije, Slavonski Brod, Slavonski Brod, Hrvatska
Suzana Bukovski ; Klinika za infektivne bolesti "Dr. Fran Mihaljević", Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) occurs most often sporadically, but suddenly and with high mortality rates. The pathogen is transmitted by droplets from the nasopharynx of asymptomatic carrier or patient, commonly during the cold season. Serogroup B meningococcus dominates in Croatia as elsewhere in Europe. The average incidence over the past fifteen years has been 1,07 per 100 000 population in Croatia while in the Brod – Posavina County the average incidence has been 0,78 per 100 000 population. Patients with IMD should be hospitalized and treated immediately with antibiotics to improve patient outcome. Due to the high mortality rates of meningococcal disease, public health activities are focused on providing timely and effective chemoprophylaxis to close contacts. We describe a six-year-old girl with IMD and post-exposure prophylaxis activities in order to prevent secondary cases.

Keywords

Meningococcal disease; chemoprophylaxis; prevention

Hrčak ID:

133466

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/133466

Publication date:

30.6.2014.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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