Meningococcal infections in the Hamilton area during 1978.
During 1978 there was a marked increase in the number of patients with meningococcal infection in the Hamilton area. Of 21 patients admitted to St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, two thirds were under 5 years of age. Four patients died. All the isolates were sulfonamide-sensitive strains of serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis. Although no infections developed in contacts, several errors were made in the management of the hospital and household contacts of the infected patients: chemoprophylaxis was given to many contacts not considered to be at risk; ineffective antibiotics, particularly penicillin, were given for chemoprophylaxis; and chemoprophylaxis was often delayed while the results of cultures of nasopharyngeal and throat secretions were awaited. Circulation to local physicians of guidelines on proven prophylactic regimens was followed by a reduction in the frequency of these errors.
D000293:Adolescent; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009864:Ontario; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013411:Sulfadiazine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013411:Sulfadiazine; D010400:Penicillin G; D012293:Rifampin