Meningococcal pneumonia. A source of nosocomial infection

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Pneumonia apparently resulting from aspiration became clinically apparent in an elderly man 2 days after admission to a private room on a general medical ward. Pneumonia developed in a patient in an adjacent room 3 days later. Both patients had group B N. meningitidis isolated from a percutaneous transtracheal aspirate. A prevalence survey failed to identify meningococcal carriers among other ward patients. The index patient required frequent nasotracheal suctioning during the first 2 hospital days prior to penicillin G potassium therapy. The 2nd patient was simultaneously receiving continuous O2 therapy administered by nasal cannula. Events suggested that the organism may have been transmitted by direct contact, probably on the hands of hospital personnel.