Meningococcal pneumonia: Characterization and review of cases seen over the past 25 years

Fifty-eight cases of meningococcal pneumonia were included in this review. Fifty cases previously described in the literature from 1974 through 1998 a nd 8 new cases were included in this series. The median age of patients was 57.5 years, and pleuritic chest pain was described in 21 (53.9%) of 39 cas es. Blood cultures were positive in 42 (79.3%) of 53 cases for which result s were mentioned. Despite the presence of bacteremia, patients did not deve lop the syndrome of meningococcemia with its associated complications. Sero group Y meningococci were most commonly recovered and accounted for 44.2% o f identified isolates. Therapy has dramatically changed over the past 25 ye ars; prior to 1991, penicillin antibiotics were most often used. Since 1991 , 12 (80%) of 15 patients received cephalosporin antibiotics. Only 5 (8.62% ) of 58 patients died. Secondary cases of meningococcal infections followin g exposure to patients with meningococcal pneumonia were noted in 2 instanc es.