A Rare Case of Neisseria Meningitidis Pneumonia in a Polytrauma Patient

Risk factors for meningococcal pneumonia include age 60 years, smoking, disorders and deficiencies of the complement system, functional or anatomic asplenia, housing in close quarters, preceding influenza, and other viral and bacterial respiratory infections. 2 The patient is a 41-year-old man who presented as a highest level trauma alert after being struck by a car while riding a bicycle. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis for all people with close contact with meningococcal disease, including household members, and any individuals exposed to an infected patient’s oral secretions, including health care workers. If fluoroquinolone-resistant strains of N. meningitidis have been identified in the community, then azithromycin can be used but is associated with a slightly reduced efficacy compared with the other options. 4 Neisseria meningitidis can be a rare cause of ventilator-associated pneumonia in trauma patients.