Summary
HPSC has been notified of four individuals who have been diagnosed with meningococcal disease in the last week of September
- Of the 4 individuals
- 3 of the cases have been laboratory confirmed as having meningococcal serogroup B disease
- 1 case was diagnosed based on clinical presentation
- One fatality has been reported in the media
- The age groups affected are 3 young adults (15-19 age group) and 1 child less than 10 years of age
- The regions of residence are all different parts of the country
- None of the cases have had identified links with each other or though common travel/social venue/educational facility or other social activity
- The reference laboratory is conducting further investigations on samples
Requested actions
- Clinicians are asked to be remain vigilant to the possibility that further cases may present at this time of increase social mixing post pandemic restrictions.
- Laboratory Diagnosis •
- Antibiotic therapy should not be delayed while initiating or awaiting results of diagnostic tests.
- Diagnostic tests used include:
- Culture for pathogens associated with meningitis from normally sterile sites i.e. blood culture +/- CSF examination and culture.
- Specific PCR tests are available to detect pathogens commonly causing meningitis/sepsis (blood and CSF samples).
- Additional tests that may be useful include:
- Direct microscopy and demonstration of intracellular gram negative diplococci (GNDC) in scrapings from a petechial or purpuric lesion.
- Culture for N. meningitidis from non-sterile site (throat, eye) is recommended as an adjunct to other samples as it may yield an isolate for epidemiological typing, however, this is not a diagnostic test.
Actions being undertaken by HSE
- Cascade to Clinicians to raise awareness
- Advice is being provided to the general public regarding signs and symptoms and to seek medical attention as appropriate
- Student Union services are being asked to raise awareness about meningitis and sepsis among the student population
Further sources of information:
HSE Bacterial meningitis guidelines : HPSC BacMen 2017 Web.pdf
HPSC – Bacterial meningitis factsheet Factsheets - Health Protection Surveillance Centre (hpsc.ie)
HPSC – data Surveillance Reports - Health Protection Surveillance Centre (hpsc.ie)
National Immunisation Office website – information about MenB, MenC and MenACWY vaccines www.immunisation.ie
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