Synopsis
Identify genuine close contacts of meningococcal disease, distinguish prophylaxis from treatment, deliver rapid single-dose or alternative carriage eradication safely, and coordinate notification, vaccination and symptom action with health protection.
- Notify suspected meningococcal disease immediately; the health-protection team, not an informal contact list, defines who receives prophylaxis.
- Close contacts usually include household-like exposure, intimate kissing and direct unprotected contact with respiratory secretions around the infectious period.
- Healthcare staff need prophylaxis only after direct exposure to large-droplet secretions without appropriate protection, such as airway resuscitation.
Key red flags
Any invasive symptom in a contact triggers emergency treatment, not a chemoprophylaxis appointment.
Unprotected mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, intubation splash or intimate kissing creates a carriage exposure that health protection evaluates promptly.
Investigation priorities
Separate asymptomatic contacts from people who may already have invasive disease.
Management branches
A probable or confirmed meningococcal case creates concern among contacts.
- Notify health protection and provide secure index-case, onset, setting and exposure information for a formal contact assessment.
- Ask every potential contact about symptoms first and divert symptomatic people to emergency care without clinic delay.
Key medicines
Ciprofloxacin meningococcal prophylaxisGive ciprofloxacin 500 mg orally once to an eligible adult contact when susceptibility and safety permit.
Ceftriaxone prophylaxisGive ceftriaxone 250 mg intramuscularly once to an eligible adult when selected, including pregnancy-compatible use.