Fatal Nongroupable Neisseria meningitidis Disease in Vaccinated Patient Receiving Eculizumab

Abstract

Patients receiving eculizumab have an increased risk for meningococcal disease, but most reported cases are attributable to encapsulated meningococcal strains. We describe a case in which a nongroupable meningococcal strain, which rarely causes disease in healthy persons, caused fatal disease in an eculizumab recipient despite meningococcal vaccination.

Keywords: 4CMenB; Bexsero; MenB-4C; Soliris; bacteria; eculizumab; immunization; meningitis/encephalitis; meningococcemia; meningococci; paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria; vaccinated; vaccines.