Two cases of meningococcal sepsis caused by neisseria meningitidis serogroup B

Abstract

Thirteen serogroups of bacterium Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis) have been identified, but 5 of them - A, B, C, W-135 and Y - are responsible for majority of the infections worldwide. Serogroup B meningococcus is uncommon in Bulgaria. In 2014 two cases of meningococcal sepsis caused by N. meningitidis serogroup B were diagnosed and treated in the Clinic of Infectious Diseases of University Hospital of Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. They were 10-months old female and 1-year old male. The diagnosis was based on the clinical, epidemiological, laboratorial, microbiological and molecular-genetic analysis. Both cases presented with a sudden oncet of fever, marked asthenia, refusing feeds and hemorrhagic-necrotic skin rash. In the first case the disease evolved to meningococcal sepsis with meningitis with a favorable outcome. The second case rapidly developed fulminant meningococcal sepsis without meningitis with a lethal outcome. In both cases N. meningitidis serogroup B as etiological agent was confirmed.