title: Early management of meningococcal disease--do attitudes of GPs influence practice?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Survival from early meningococcal disease might be improved if general practitioners followed guidelines by immediately administering parenteral antibiotics (before hospital referral).
  
  
  METHODS
  Structured telephone interviews with 20 GPs who had previously treated meningococcal cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  General practitioners knew guideline recommendations for early management of meningococcal disease: early parenteral antibiotics would be given by about half the GPs entertaining a diagnosis of meningococcal infection. Barriers to immediate treatment were: diagnostic uncertainty, regarding the case as nonurgent, and practising close to a hospital.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnosing meningococcal disease is difficult in general practice. Early antibiotic administration for suspected cases is appropriate even in close proximity to referral hospitals.
authors.affiliation: Brisbane Southside Public Health Unit, Queensland. kari_jarvinen@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jarvinen
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Selvey
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Del Mar
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tilse
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pugh
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000592:standards*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents