Treatment and Vaccines

As we discussed previously, early diagnosis is imperative to receiving early treatment for meningococcal meningitis.  Once the condition is determined, the individual will be admitted to the hospital in order to receive the treatment.  Since meningococcal meningitis is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, we are able to treat the condition with a number of effective antibiotics (WHO, 2015).  The delivery of antibiotics should happen immediately after diagnosis.  In some cases if the symptoms are severe and meningitis is highly suspected, then antibiotics may be delivered before a positive diagnosis (CDC, 2014).  

The most common antibiotics that are used to treat the infection include penicillin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and ceftriaxone (WHO 2015).  Antibiotics can act on a bacterium in one of two ways.   One way is to kill the bacterium itself (bactericidal), or slow their growth in order for the body to be able to take over (bacteriostatic).  For example, Penicillin is a drug that is bactericidal.  Penicillin kills the bacterium by targeting the building blocks that help make the walls of the bacterium.  This causes the bacterium to lose their integrity and break.  These medications should be delivered by parenteral route, which means any route outside of the GI tract (mainly intravenous, and intramuscular) (Meningitis Research Foundation, 2014).  If needed, the patient should be given supportive treatment such as airway management or basic fluids (Meningitis Research Foundation, 2014). Sometimes, individuals experience side effects to Penicillins.  Patients may have an immediate response known as anaphylaxis that develops within 30-60 minutes after delivery.  Patients may also develop a rash 1-72 hours after delivery.  Individuals that experience these side effects should then be labeled as "allergic" to penicillin.  Some individuals develop a rash over 72 hours later that cannot be explained.  This macropapilar rash is not considered to be an allergic response (Black, 2014).  Ceftriaxone elicits similar side effects including risk for anaphylaxis and rash, however it also includes risk for seizures, and GI dysfunction (Davis Drug Guide, 2014).  It is important for nurses to watch for these undesired reactions and respond appropriately (remove treatment immediately and deliver epinephrine for anaphylactic response).  Also, if the patient has experienced minimal reactions before, they should inform the nurse before delivery because a rash one time may lead to anaphylaxis the next.

Yes, there are treatments available for meningococcal meningitis.  However, patients do not always survive.  Even with antibiotic treatment, 10-15% of cases will die (CDC, 2014).  And out of the survivors, many suffer from long term disabilities such as loss of limbs from septicemia, deafness, nervous system problems, and brain damage (CDC, 2014).  This is why it is important to know about the vaccines that are available in order to prevent meningococcal meningitis.  Just like any vaccine, this one protects against most types of the disease.  There are two types of vaccines in the U.S. that specifically protect against the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis.  These vaccines include Menomune which is a polysaccharide vaccine, and Menactra, Menveo, and MenHibrix which are meningococcal conjugate vaccines (CDC, 2014).  It is recommended that all adolescents be vaccinated at 11-12 years old.  It is now known that the vaccine may only last 5 years, so it is important to receive boosters if you are still at high risk.  If you are an adult, you should still consider the vaccine.  You should receive the vaccine if you are a college student living in a residence hall, you are a military recruit, you have a damaged or removed spleen, you have a terminal complement deficiency, or if you are traveling to countries where the disease is common (CDC, 2014).  The best way to prevent disease is to vaccinate against it.  Here is the testimony of people who have experienced it first hand. 

  http://www.cbsnews.com/news/meningococcal-meningitis-could-derail-dreams-early-athletes-warn/


BIBLIOGRAPHY

Black, Douglas. (November, 2014). Lecture: Antibiotics and Antifungals. University of Washington, Seattle

Centers for Disease control and Prevention. (April, 2014). Meningococcal Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/diagnosis-treatment.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (April, 2014).  Meningococcal: Who Needs to be Vaccinated. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/mening/who-vaccinate.htm

Davis Drug Guide. (2014). CefTRIAXone. Retrieved from http://www.drugguide.com/ddo/view/Davis-Drug-Guide/109029/all/cefTRIAXone

Meningitis Research Foundation. (2014). Meningococcal Meningitis and Septicaemia Guidance Notes. Retrieved from http://www.meningitis.org/assets/x/50631

World Health Organization. (February, 2015). Meningococcal Meningitis. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs141/en/

PICTURES

Tangent Adhesives (2014). Adhesives for Needle and Syringe Assembly.  Retrieved From http://tangentindinc.com/applications/adhesives-for-needle-and-syringe-assembly.html

https://www.mims.com/SINGAPORE/drug/info/Penicillin%20G%20Sodium%20Sandoz/