1. Introduction and epidemiology of meningococcal disease
Neisseria meningitidis
Disease surveillance
Case fatality and sequelae
Epidemiology of meningococcal disease
Capsular groups causing disease
Current issues
Summary points
References
2. Carriage and transmission of Neisseria meningitidis
Introduction
Detecting the carrier state
The natural history of meningococcal carriage
Epidemiology of carriage
Other Neisseria species
Effect of vaccination on carriage
Summary points
References
3. Pathogenesis of invasive disease
Introduction
Transmission, adaptation, and penetration to the circulation
Neisseria meningitidis and intravascular survival
Meningococcemia: a disease of the endothelial cells
Pathophysiological characteristics of clinical presentations of meningococcal disease
The immune response
Summary points
References
4. Diagnosis of meningococcal disease
Introduction
Conventional diagnosis
Molecular diagnosis
Typing of Neisseria meningitidis
Summary and future outlook
References
5. Clinical aspects of meningococcal disease
Introduction
Clinical spectrum of disease
Symptoms of disease
Disease outcomes and prognosis
Raising awareness of disease
Genetic factors
Summary points
References
6. Treatment of meningococcal disease
Introduction
Shock
Raised intracranial pressure
Antibiotic therapy
Adjunctive therapies
Where to manage children with meningococcal disease?
Summary points
References
7. Prevention of meningococcal disease through vaccination
Introduction
Polysaccharide vaccines
Protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccines
Production and quality control of polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines
Immunological correlates of protection
Capsular group B vaccines
Summary points
References
Appendix
Management of bacterial meningitis in children and young people
Management of meningococcal disease in children and young people
Early management of suspected bacterial meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia in immunocompetent adults
