A Fatal Case of Invasive Infection Caused By W135 Neisseria meningitidis in a Vaccinated French Soldier. Issue 11 (1st November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Duron, Sandrine; Martinaud, Christophe; Lacassagne, David; Koeck, Jean-Louis
• Is Part Of: Military medicine. Volume 181:Issue 11/12(2016)
• Page Start: e1702
• Page End: e1705
• Publication Date: 2016-11-01
• Subjects: Surgery, Military -- Societies, etc; Medicine, Military -- Societies, etc; Medicine, Military -- Periodicals; Surgery, Military -- Periodicals; Medicine, Military; Surgery, Military; Military Medicine -- Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.98023
• DOI: 10.7205/MILMED-D-15-00448
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0026-4075

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We report on the case of fatal "purpura fulminans" caused by Neisseria meningitidis W135 that occurred in a young French soldier vaccinated a few months earlier with the tetravalent conjugate vaccine ACYW135. Biological investigations revealed adequate titers of postvaccination antibodies against serogroups A, C, and W135 and led to the post-mortem diagnosis of a complete C7 complement deficiency. Late complement component deficiency is a well-known risk factor of meningococcal diseases, but usually exposes to recurrent mild infections, whereas severe invasive meningococcal diseases are more likely to occur among properdin-deficient patients. Awareness of the potentially life-threatening nature of late complement component deficiency should lead to improved diagnosis among young people, especially when past medical history reveals recurrent mild infections.