GPs warned to have ‘high suspicion’ for meningitis as practices field vaccine queries
The NHS has advised GPs to have a ‘high index of suspicion’ where a young person aged 16 to 30 attends with consistent signs or symptoms of meningitis.
An alert sent to update primary care and hospital clinicians in England in response to the unfolding outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease reported among young people linked to the University of Kent also advises that ‘rapid admission to hospital’ is the highest priority when meningitis is suspected.
‘Conveyance to hospital should not be delayed for procurement or administration of antibiotics,’ the update said.
A total of 20 cases of invasive meningococcal disease have now linked to the outbreak in Kent with six confirmed as Neisseria meningitidis group B.
The illness has ‘been severe with rapid deterioration’ and two young people have died, the alert noted.
At least 10 of the cases attended Club Chemistry in Canterbury on 5, 6 or 7 March.
No cases have yet appeared outside the cluster in Kent, although one connected individual had later been diagnosed in hospital in London and another in France.
GPs across England have been advised to prescribe antibiotics to anyone who visited Club Chemistry between 5-7 March and to University of Kent students because some of those impacted may have travelled home.
Professor Susan Hopkins, chief executive officer of the UK Health Security Agency described the unprecedented outbreak as a ‘super spreader event’.
Official do not yet know where the infection came from, how it got into this group of students and ‘why it’s created such an explosive amount of infections’.
So far 2,500 prophylactic doses of antibiotics have been handed out to those connected to the outbreak and a targeted vaccination campaign will be carried out for 5,000 students.
The latest guidance for clinicians also states that standard infection prevention and control precautions should be followed where patients have suspected meningitis.
GPs from around the country have told Pulse they are being inundated with queries about accessing meningitis vaccinations as well as some patients with symptoms.
Dr Matthew Prendergast, a GP at the University Health Service in Southampton, said they were getting lots of interest and had put a statement on their website.
‘Currently we are saying that there is no indication for antibiotics or vaccination unless you went to the club or are a Uni of Kent student.’
Dr Dan Bunstone, a GP in Warrington, said they were getting queries from ‘people looking at prevention and wanting to get vaccinated, but also people with suggestive symptoms who want to get checked out and make sure it’s nothing serious’.
In Tower Hamlets in East London, GP partner Dr Selvaseelan Selvarajah said ‘we have had lots of queries’.
‘We are in the process of setting up short text messages and our ICB has also sent guidance we can share with parents/patients.’
Professor Azeem Majeed, a GP in south London and professor of primary care and public health at Imperial College London, said he had been getting questions about meningitis B vaccination on the NHS.
It is available for infants, while the MenACWY is vaccine offered at age 13-14 years and can be obtained up to the age of 25 years on the NHS.
‘For private vaccination, I usually tell patients and parents that this is a personal choice. The MenB vaccine is safe and offers good protection but vigilance for symptoms and early medical help remain essential as it is not 100% effective. Also, the immunity starts to wear off after a few years,’ Professor Majeed said.
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