Chronic meningococcemia in a young immunocompetent patient: case report

Introduction: Meningococcal disease, caused by Neisseria meningitidis, commonly presents with meningococcemia or meningococcal meningitis. Meningococcemia without meningitis is an often underdiagnosed clinical form of invasive Neisseria meningitidis infection. Case report: We report a case of invasive meningococcal infection with an atypical presentation in the form of meningococcemia without any signs of meningitis or severe sepsis in a seventeen-year-old immunocompetent patient who presented with fever, rash, and arthritis. Definitive diagnosis was made by isolation of meningococci in blood culture. Conclusion: This case highlights the range of clinical features of invasive meningococcal disease. Early recognition of this entity is imperative to allow urgent initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy, to avoid diagnostic delay, and to prevent potentially serious complications.