[Meningococcemia without meningitis: A report of two cases].
BACKGROUND
Meningococcemia without meningitis is an often under recognized clinical form of invasive Neisseria meningitidis infection.


METHODS
We report two unusual cases of invasive meningococcal disease who presented with meningococcemia without distinct signs of meningitis or severe sepsis manifestation. In both cases, confirmation of the diagnosis is provided by meningococcal PCR performed on blood or skin lesion biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical recognition of this entity is crucial for early antibiotic treatment and to avoid delayed diagnosis and potentially dangerous complications.
Service de dermatologie, centre hospitalier de Saint-Brieuc, 10, rue Marcel-Proust, 22000 Saint-Brieuc, France.
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Poizeau
Service de dermatologie, centre hospitalier de Saint-Brieuc, 10, rue Marcel-Proust, 22000 Saint-Brieuc, France.
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Cormerais
Service de dermatologie, centre hospitalier de Saint-Brieuc, 10, rue Marcel-Proust, 22000 Saint-Brieuc, France.
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Darrieux
Service d'accueil des urgences, centre hospitalier de Saint-Brieuc, 10, rue Marcel-Proust, 22000 Saint-Brieuc, France.
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Ricordel
Service d'accueil des urgences, centre hospitalier de Saint-Brieuc, 10, rue Marcel-Proust, 22000 Saint-Brieuc, France.
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Garnier
Service de dermatologie, centre hospitalier de Saint-Brieuc, 10, rue Marcel-Proust, 22000 Saint-Brieuc, France. Electronic address: gilles.safa@ch-stbrieuc.fr.
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Safa
D000293:Adolescent; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000473:pathology*; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018805:Sepsis / Q000473:pathology; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000473:pathology*
Infection invasive à méningocoque; Invasive meningococcal disease; Meningococcemia; Méningococcémie; Neisseria meningitides; Neisseria meningitidis