Favorable outcome after life-threatening meningococcal disease complicating influenza A(H1N1) infection

S Legriel; S Merceron; P Tattevin; M-A Mouvier; S Marque-Juillet; A Le Monnier; J-P Bedos; F Bruneel

doi:10.1007/s15010-011-0134-4

Favorable outcome after life-threatening meningococcal disease complicating influenza A(H1N1) infection

Infection. 2011 Oct;39(5):477-80. doi: 10.1007/s15010-011-0134-4. Epub 2011 Jun 25.

Authors

S Legriel¹, S Merceron, P Tattevin, M-A Mouvier, S Marque-Juillet, A Le Monnier, J-P Bedos, F Bruneel

Affiliation

¹ Intensive Care Unit, CH Versailles, Site André Mignot, 177 rue de Versailles, Le Chesnay, France. slegriel@ch-versailles.fr

PMID: 21706225
DOI: 10.1007/s15010-011-0134-4

Abstract

Purpose: Neurological complications of influenza A(H1N1) have been reported in several patients since the onset of the pandemic in 2009. However, meningococcal disease complicating influenza A(H1N1) has not been reported.

Patients: Two patients were admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) for altered mental status, fever, and rapidly spreading petechial purpura. They were diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis and/or meningococcemia and influenza A(H1N1) co-infection.

Conclusions: Meningococcal disease presenting as meningitis and/or meningococcemia is among the potential complications of influenza A(H1N1) infection. Physicians should be aware of this co-infection, as it must be detected and treated promptly with antibiotics in addition to supportive care.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
Coinfection / complications
Coinfection / drug therapy*
Coinfection / microbiology
Female
France
Humans
Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / drug effects
Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / isolation & purification*
Influenza, Human / complications
Influenza, Human / diagnosis
Influenza, Human / drug therapy*
Influenza, Human / microbiology
Male
Meningococcal Infections / complications
Meningococcal Infections / diagnosis
Meningococcal Infections / drug therapy*
Meningococcal Infections / microbiology
Neisseria meningitidis / drug effects
Neisseria meningitidis / isolation & purification*
Nervous System Diseases / complications
Nervous System Diseases / drug therapy*
Nervous System Diseases / microbiology
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Antiviral Agents