Group Y meningococcal disease in United States Air Force recruits

Abstract

Between 1971 and 1974, group Y meningococcal disease developed in 88 Air Force recruits; 68 had primary bacterial pneumonia. None of the patients with primary pneumonia had the stigmata of meningococcemia or meningitis. Patients with pneumonia responded well to small doses of parenteral penicillin. Ten patients had meningococcemia, and six had meningitis. Pneumonia, therefore, predominated over meningococcemia and meningitis 4:1. Skin lesions were rare in patients with meningococcemia but frequent in those with meningitis; otherwise, these clinical syndromes were similar to group B and C meningococcal disease. There was only one death, a patient with known preexisting leukopenia.