Meningococcocemia complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation, splenic infarction and pulmonary thromboembolism in a young adult: case report

Abstract

Mortality of meningococcal septicemia remains high in spite of the improvement of antibiotics treatment and critical care medicine. A 23-year-old male, who had been well until a day earlier, was admitted to the hospital because of a high-grade fever and headache. On the second hospital day, he was still febrile, and it was confirmed that he had disseminated intravascular coagulation. There was no purpuric skin lesion, and a lumbar puncture revealed no abnormality. The condition was complicated by a splenic infarction on the second hospital day, and he suffered a pulmonary infarction on the 8th hospital day. The blood culture was positive for Neisseria meningitidis, making the diagnosis meningococcal septicemia. He was successfully treated with antibiotics and intensive care. Although meningococcocemia in adults is relatively rare in Japan, the disease mortality is still high even in the modern era. Then, once the diagnosis is suspected, it is essential to keep in mind that meningococcal infection requires early recognition of the disease process, prompt initiation of adequate antiinfectious therapy and intensive treatment of multiorgan failure.