Abstract
The majority of meningococcal diseases are caused by serogroups A,B,C,W-135, X and Y of bacteria Neisseria meningitis, geographical distribution of which varies substantially. Neisseria meningitidis is fairly sensitive to the broad spectrum of antibiotics, but in some cases,even after timely initiation of proper antibiotic therapy, systemic inflammatory response may develop, which can lead to a severe multiorgan failure.
Neisseria meningitidis can cause both invasive and noninvasive form of the disease. Noninvasive meningoccocal diseases include for example pharyngitis, pneumonia, bronchitis and others.
Invasive meningococcal disease (IMO) is manifested as meningococcal septicemia, meningococcal meningitis and sepsis with meningitis. Antibiotic treatment aims to quickly eliminate the causative agent and thus, inter alia, to reduce the production of all cytokines or mediators involved in the development of sepsis.
Neisseria meningitis is sensitive to penicillin (PNC) in Czech Republic. During the initial empirical therapy cephalosporins of the 3rd generation are recommended.
Several types of meningococcal vaccines are currently available in Czech Republic-polysacharide vaccine, conjugate vaccine and monovalent conjugate tetravaccine. Due to the current epidemiological situation, where the highest morbidity in children under one year of age is caused by serogroup B, a registration of the new vaccine against meningococcal B is urgently needed.