Atypical clinical presentation of laboratory-acquired meningococcal disease

Abstract

We report a case of laboratory-acquired meningococcal disease in a 31-y-old female research assistant. The clinical presentation of the case was atypical with polyserositis affecting knees, pleura and pericardium, without septicaemia or meningitis. The diagnosis was made by positive PCR for Neisseria meningitidis (genogroup C, genosubtype P1.7, 16, 35 and without mutations of the penA gene) in the patient's right knee. Serology confirmed the diagnosis after recovery. This case had an atypical clinical picture, exemplifies the use of non-culture methods for diagnosis and characterization, and reminds us about the importance of safe routines for the laboratory work.