Meningococcal disease
The commonest form of bacterial meningitis is caused by infection with Neisseria Meningitidis.
Meningococcal disease may present as meningitis (inflammation of the brain meninges) and/or septicaemia (blood poisoning) and is most common during the winter months.
Case definitions
Confirmed case: Clinical diagnosis of meningitis, septicaemia or other invasive disease AND at least one of:
- Neisseria meningitidis isolated from normally sterile site
- Gram negative diplococcic in normally sterile site
- Meningococcal DNA in normally sterile site
- Meningococcal antigen in blood, CSF or urine
Probable case: Clinical diagnosis of meningitis or septicaemia or other invasive disease where the public health physician, in consultation with the physician and microbiologist, consider that meningococcal infection is the most likely diagnosis.