Please note: This is for information only.

Refer to local guidelines for treatment recommendations

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• Gram-negative intracellular diplococci
• Meningococci can be present in patients saliva during the first 48 hours of admission. Masks should therefore be worn for endotracheal intubation or suctioning and patients nursed in a side room for the first 48 hours if possible.
• Diagnosis can be made by looking for meningococcal DNA by PCR on EDTA samples, as well as blood cultures and CSF cultures.

Main clinical infections:

• Meningococci:
• Meningitis and / or septicaemia
• Pneumonia in the elderly
• Occasionally septic arthritis.
• Gonococci:
• Vaginal / penile discharge
• Pelvic inflammatory diseases.
• Occasionally disseminated infection with septic arthritis.

Usually sensitive to:

Meningococci:

• For treatment: Penicillin, 3rd generation cephalosporins (ceftriaxone, cefotaxime)
• For eradication of carriage: rifampicin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone

Gonococci:

• Third generation cephalosporins eg ceftriaxone.

Usually resistant to:

• Sulfonamides.

Gonococci:

• Increasing problem of resistance to penicillin so only used for treatment if known sensitive strain.
• Resistance to the quinolone antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin) is rising