Meningococcal sepsis (ICD-10-GM A39.0: meningococcal meningitis; ICD-10-GM A39.2: acute meningococcal sepsis; ICD-10-GM A39. 3: Chronic meningococcal sepsis) is the severe complication of meningitis (meningitis) transmitted by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis (meningococci types A, B, C, Y, and W135). Approximately 70% of all meningococcal infections are caused by serotype B and approximately 30% by serogroup C.
Meningococcal sepsis, along with meningococcal meningitis (meningitis), is one of the invasive meningococcal infections.
Transmission of the pathogen (route of infection) occurs via droplets that are produced when coughing and sneezing and are absorbed by the other person via the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and possibly the eye (droplet infection) or aerogenically (through droplet nuclei (aerosols) containing the pathogen in the exhaled air), i.e. even with relatively distant contacts such as coughing in a dense crowd or in conversation or kissing).
Human-to-human transmission: Yes.
The incidence (frequency of new cases) of meningococcal disease is about 0.5-5 per 100,000 inhabitants per year (in industrialized countries).
Course and prognosis: Meningococcal sepsis occurs in approximately 1% of all meningococcal infections. In 10-20% of those affected, the so-called Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome (synonyms: adrenal apoplexy or suprarenal apoplexy) occurs, in which, in addition to sepsis, there is a failure of the adrenal cortex (acute failure of the adrenal glands), consumption coagulopathy (life-threatening condition in which clotting factors are consumed by a strong blood clotting process, resulting in a strong tendency to bleed) and circulatory shock.
The lethality (mortality related to the total number of people suffering from the disease) of meningococcal sepsis is approximately 10%. In the case of Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome, it is approx. 35-50 %.
In Germany, the disease is notifiable according to the Infection Protection Act (IfSG). The notification has to be made by name in case of suspected disease, illness as well as death.
