Penicillin-resistant Neisseria meningitidis bacteraemia, Kimberley region, March 2010

Authors

  • Shivanti D Abeysuriya Department of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia
  • David J Speers Department of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands Western Australia; School of Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands Western Australia
  • Jackie Gardiner Derby Regional Hospital, Derby, Western Australia
  • Ronan J Murray Department of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, Western Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands Western Australia; School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley Western Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2010.34.36

Keywords:

Neisseria meningitidis, penicillin resistant, meningococcus, meningococcal disease

Abstract

A 4-year-old fully immunised male presented to a regional hospital in the West Kimberley with fever and lethargy. Blood cultures yielded serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis, resistant to benzylpenicillin (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 1.0 mg/L). The patient was treated with intravenous ceftriaxone and made a complete recovery. Although invasive N. meningitidis isolates with reduced penicillin susceptibility are not uncommon in Australia, this is the first report of a benzylpenicillin-resistant isolate (MIC > 0.5 mg/L) causing invasive disease. As benzylpenicillin is currently recommended as first line empiric and definitive therapy for invasive meningococcal disease, the emergence of penicillin-resistant N. meningitidis disease is of concern and emphasises the importance of ongoing surveillance for antimicrobial resistance. Commun Dis Intell 2010;34(3):324–326.

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References

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Published

01/09/10

How to Cite

Abeysuriya, Shivanti D, David J Speers, Jackie Gardiner, and Ronan J Murray. 2010. “Penicillin-Resistant Neisseria Meningitidis Bacteraemia, Kimberley Region, March 2010”. Communicable Diseases Intelligence 34 (September):342-44. https://doi.org/10.33321/cdi.2010.34.36.

Issue

Vol. 34 (2010)

Section

Short report

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