Meningococcal disease in one soldier patient: case report from Vietnam

Abstract

Meningococcal disease is caused by an infection with Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis) bacteria, which is responsible for two major forms of the disease including meningitis and/or septicaemia. N. meningitidis remains a significant cause of an endemic and leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis of meningococcal disease may be challenging due to clinical signs that vary widely and are often similar to those of other illnesses. Meningococcal disease persists in Vietnamese military populations despite the availability of antibiotics and vaccines. The rate of meningococcal disease in Vietnam is low and no meningococcal sepsis case has yet been reported from Vietnam. Herein, we describe the first meningococcal sepsis case in a Vietnamese military unit and emphasize the beneficial application of a molecular method in the diagnosis of N. meningitidis and the successful use of antibiotic treatment.