Meningococcal Disease

Table 1: Antibiotics recommended for chemoprophylaxis and eradication of nasopharyngeal carriage of N. meningitidis.

Age Group	Reference*	Antibiotics	Dosages
Adults
Adults	CCDM AAP	Rifampin**	600 mg by mouth twice daily for 2 days
Adults	CCDM	Ceftriaxone***	250 mg intramuscularly, single dose
Adults $18 years	CCDM	Ciprofloxacin	500 mg by mouth, single dose
Children
Children #1 month	AAP CCDM	Rifampin	5 mg/kg by mouth every 12 hours for two days
Children >1 month	AAP CCDM	Rifampin	10 mg/kg by mouth every 12 hours for two days (maximum dose 600 mg)
Children <15 years	CCDM	Ceftriaxone***	125 mg intramuscularly, single dose
Children <12 years	AAP	Ceftriaxone***	125 mg intramuscularly, single dose

* CCDM: Control of Communicable Disease Manual, 16th edition. American Public Health Association, 1995. AAP: American Academy of Pediatrics, Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases, 1994 Red Book.

** Single dose ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone now are considered to be reasonable alternatives to rifampin.

***CCDM and AAP differ on the recommended age limits for children receiving ceftriaxone.

Ceftriaxone is the drug of choice during pregnancy.

Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene — Epidemiology & Disease Control Program

Fact Sheet Index