RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Three cases of meningococcal pneumonia.
JF Thorax
JO Thorax
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Thoracic Society
SP 927
OP 929
DO 10.1136/thx.52.10.927
VO 52
IS 10
A1 E M Jones
A1 N M Brown
A1 J E Harvey
A1 D S Reeves
A1 A P MacGowan
YR 1997
UL http://thorax.bmj.com/content/52/10/927.abstract
AB Three cases of pneumonia due to Neisseria meningitidis are described. In all three cases the organism was isolated only from blood cultures, but in the presence of good clinical and radiological evidence of pneumonia. The isolates belonged to three different serogroups: B type 2b, C, and Y. The cases illustrate the fact that N meningitidis can cause pneumonia and that culture of blood plays an important part in the diagnosis. Clinically there is nothing to differentiate meningococcal pneumonia from other causes of community acquired pneumonia. Predisposing factors include aspiration, immunosuppression, influenza, and adenovirus infections. When diagnosed, pneumonia due to N meningitidis should be notified and prophylaxis given as for meningitis or septicaemia.