Meningococcal meningitis secondary to meningococcal cervicitis: A case with identity of isolates confirmed by molecular typing

A case of Neisseria meningitidis cervicitis and subsequent meningitis after genital tract instrumentation is reported. Molecular typing using random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis (RAPD) confirmed the genital and CSF isolates were identical. N meningitidis has previously been isolated from the cervix and urethra and is a recognised cause of cervicitis and urethritis. It has, however, only rarely been associated with secondary dissemination and to our knowledge this is the first published case of N meningitidis meningitis associated with instrumentation of an infected genital tract. RAPD analysis demonstrated both the genital and CSF isolates to be the same. This case demonstrates the pathogenicity of cervical N meningitidis as a cause of both local cervicitis and, after instrumentation, meningitis. If this organism is isolated from the genital tract then consideration should be given to treatment, especially if instrumentation is planned.