ECDC presents its most recent guidance on public health management of sporadic cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). The purpose of this document is to provide evidence-based guidance for good practice in public health management of sporadic cases of meningococcal disease and their contacts.

Neisseria meningitidis is a common commensal bacterium of the human pharyngeal mucosa. This organism can cause severe IMD usually presenting as meningitis, septicaemia or both. Unfortunately, public health management of sporadic IMD varies widely in Europe and this is partly attributed to uncertainty surrounding the effectiveness of preventive measures.

This guidance provides answers to specific questions about a variety of topics such as laboratory testing, chemoprophylaxis effectiveness, and antibiotic regimes for risk groups. It rates the quality of the evidence (low, moderate or high) for these answers in its additional aim of assisting countries across Europe to make decisions about appropriate measures for controlling and preventing IMD at national and local levels.  The guidance aims to aid European countries in reviewing their own policies on public health management and microbiological diagnosis of meningococcal disease. 

Public health management of sporadic cases of invasive meningococcal disease and their contacts