title: A Fatal Case of Invasive Infection Caused By W135 Neisseria meningitidis in a Vaccinated French Soldier.
abstract: We report on the case of fatal "purpura fulminans" caused by Neisseria meningitidis W135 that occurred in a young French soldier vaccinated a few months earlier with the tetravalent conjugate vaccine ACYW135. Biological investigations revealed adequate titers of postvaccination antibodies against serogroups A, C, and W135 and led to the post-mortem diagnosis of a complete C7 complement deficiency. Late complement component deficiency is a well-known risk factor of meningococcal diseases, but usually exposes to recurrent mild infections, whereas severe invasive meningococcal diseases are more likely to occur among properdin-deficient patients. Awareness of the potentially life-threatening nature of late complement component deficiency should lead to improved diagnosis among young people, especially when past medical history reveals recurrent mild infections.
authors.affiliation: French Armed Forces Center for Epidemiology and Public Health, Camp militaire de Sainte Marthe, GSBdD Marseille Aubagne, 111 Avenue de la Corse, BP 40026, 13568 Marseille Cedex 02, France.
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Duron
authors.affiliation: French Armed Forces Health Service.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinaud
authors.affiliation: French Armed Forces Health Service.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lacassagne
authors.affiliation: French Armed Forces Health Service.
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Koeck
mesh_terms: D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D038582:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup W-135 / Q000472:pathogenicity; D055665:Purpura Fulminans / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D014611:Vaccination / Q000401:mortality; D055815:Young Adult