Meningococcal Disease — SCE Infectious Diseases MCQ

Correct answer: A — Notify the health-protection team urgently so contact assessment, chemoprophylaxis and any indicated vaccination can begin with review after review after reassessment

The best answer is “Notify the health-protection team urgently so contact assessment, chemoprophylaxis and any indicated vaccination can begin with review after review after reassessment”. Meningococcal disease is managed on suspicion: notification should not await confirmation, while contact interventions are targeted through a formal public-health assessment. “Delay notification until blood culture confirms the serogroup” is less appropriate because it does not satisfy the scenario's decisive clinical or jurisdictional requirement. “Perform lumbar puncture before notifying public health” is less appropriate because it does not satisfy the scenario's decisive clinical or jurisdictional requirement. “Give prophylaxis to every person in the emergency department” is less appropriate because it does not satisfy the scenario's decisive clinical or jurisdictional requirement. “Use negative throat culture from the index case to rule out contact risk” is less appropriate because it does not satisfy the scenario's decisive clinical or jurisdictional requirement.

Reference: UKHSA meningococcal public-health guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/meningococcal-disease-guidance-on-public-health-management