Metrics
3 File views/ downloads
145 Record Views
Journal article
Suspected meningococcal meningitis on an aircraft carrier
Military Medicine, Vol.169, pp.684-686
169
2004
Abstract
A suspected case of meningococcal meningitis was diagnosed in a 24-year-old sailor onboard an aircraft carrier at sea in 2003. He was immediately confined to the ship’s hospital ward under respiratory isolation precautions and was treated with intravenously administered antibiotics. His illness resolved without sequelae. A total of 99 close contacts from the ship were identified and given antibiotic prophylaxis, with directly observed therapy. British public health authorities were contacted to trace and treat persons identified as close contacts
during a port call a few days before presentation. Managing a communicable disease such as meningococcal meningitis in the austere shipboard environment represents a unique challenge to military medical personnel. Successful management is possible through prompt treatment, respiratory isolation, and open communication between primary health care providers and public health officials. The identification of shipboard close contacts and other infection control procedures used by the ship’s medical department are reviewed.
Details
- Title
- Suspected meningococcal meningitis on an aircraft carrier
- Publication Details
- Military Medicine, Vol.169, pp.684-686
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Association of Military Surgeons, United States; Washington, D.C.
- Series
- 169
- Copyright
- Permission granted to the University of West Florida Libraries to digitize and/or display this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires the permission of the copyright holder.
- Identifiers
- 99380090794706600
- Academic Unit
- Public Health; Usha Kundu, MD College of Health
- Language
- English