Septicaemia Caused by an Unusual Neisseria meningitidis Species following Dental Extraction

Abstract

Dental procedures are frequently followed by transient bacteraemia. Bacteria obtained in the blood cultures are similar to bacteria of the normal mouth flora such as oral streptococci. The potential risk of bacteraemia following dental manipulations is infective endocarditis. We report here a rare case of septicaemia following dental extraction in a 84-year-old woman. Neisseria meningitidis group B type 1 P 1.9 was cultured from the blood. Postextraction septicaemia caused by meningococci has not been described before. Meningococcaemia as a rare complication of dental extraction is emphasized.