Neisseria meningitides

Neisseria meningitidis

Neisseria meningitidis (pronounced: nigh-seer-ee-uh men-in-jit-idis), also known as meningococcus, is a bacterium that can cause meningitis and other forms of meningococcal disease. It is a major cause of illness and death worldwide and is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children.

Etymology

The name Neisseria meningitidis is derived from the name of the German bacteriologist Albert Neisser, who first described the genus Neisseria, and the Greek words meningitis (meaning inflammation of the meninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord) and -idis (meaning pertaining to).

Description

Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram-negative bacterium (since it does not retain the crystal violet stain used in the Gram staining method of bacterial identification). It is a diplococcus because it occurs in pairs, with the two cells often joined at their broad sides.

Pathogenesis

Neisseria meningitidis is the only member of the Neisseria genus that has pathogenic characteristics. It can cause meningitis, a potentially fatal disease that affects the meninges. The bacterium is transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets.

Prevention and Treatment

Prevention of Neisseria meningitidis infections is possible with the use of vaccines. Treatment typically involves high-dose antibiotics.

Related Terms

• Meningitis
• Bacterium
• Gram-negative
• Diplococcus
• Pathogenesis
• Vaccine
• Antibiotics

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Neisseria meningitides
• Wikipedia's article - Neisseria meningitides

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