Meningococcal infections in the Hamilton area during 1978

During 1978 there was a marked increase in the number of patients with meningococcal infection in the Hamilton area. Of 21 patients admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, two thirds were under 5 years of age. Four patients died. All the isolates were sulfonamide-sensitive strains of serog...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Medical Association journal 1980-03, Vol.122 (5), p.541-545
Main Authors: Fawcett, S, Achong, M. R, Adeniyi-Jones, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Cerebrospinal Fluid - microbiology
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Infant
Male
Medication Errors
Meningococcal Infections - drug therapy
Meningococcal Infections - epidemiology
Meningococcal Infections - microbiology
Neisseria meningitidis - isolation & purification
Ontario
Penicillin G - therapeutic use
Rifampin - therapeutic use
Sulfadiazine - therapeutic use
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Summary:During 1978 there was a marked increase in the number of patients with meningococcal infection in the Hamilton area. Of 21 patients admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, two thirds were under 5 years of age. Four patients died. All the isolates were sulfonamide-sensitive strains of serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis. Although no infections developed in contacts, several errors were made in the management of the hospital and household contacts of the infected patients: chemoprophylaxis was given to many contacts not considered to be at risk; ineffective antibiotics, particularly penicillin, were given for chemoprophylaxis; and chemoprophylaxis was often delayed while the results of cultures of nasopharyngeal and throat secretions were awaited. Circulation to local physicians of guidelines on proven prophylactic regimens was followed by a reduction in the frequency of these errors.
ISSN:0008-4409