Meningococcal infections in a district hospital. Some clinical observations and therapeutic experiences during an epidemic in North Norway.

From 1974 to 1980, 70 patients with meningococcal disease were treated in the Harstad district hospital. Six patients died (8.6%). The prognostic score system of Niklasson gave an average of 2.31 for unfavourable factors which is high as compared to other studies. The percentage of high risk patients (score higher than three) was 24.3. Fifty-four patients were treated with benzylpenicillin as the sole antibacterial agent. The standard duration of therapy was five days, which is shorter than commonly recommended. Meningococci of serogroup B were most often isolated; nearly all of them sulphonamide resistant.