Invasive Meningococcal Disease In Adults Aged ≥65 Years Admitted To French Intensive Care Units: A Nationwide Comparison With Younger Adults - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #meningococcal disease
- #ICU
- #elderly health
- Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is increasingly affecting older adults (≥65 years), not just younger populations.
- A study in French ICUs found that 17% of IMD patients were aged ≥65, with only 0.9% vaccinated.
- Older IMD patients more frequently presented with hemodynamic failure and less often with classic symptoms like purpura or meningeal signs.
- Serogroup W was more common in older patients, while serogroup B predominated in younger adults.
- Older adults required more organ support and had significantly higher in-hospital mortality (28.1%) compared to younger patients (9.6%).
- Age ≥65 years was independently associated with higher mortality (aOR 2.99), while early third-generation cephalosporin use was protective (aOR 0.45).
- The study highlights the need for high clinical suspicion, rapid antibiotic therapy, and potential vaccination strategies for older adults.