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New guidance on meningitis for junior hospital doctors
24 February 2004
On Tuesday 24 February Meningitis Research Foundation launched its new booklet for junior doctors, which has been written as a learning and teaching tool. The need for this resource was identified as a direct result of findings from a study of healthcare delivery and outcome of meningococcal disease - meningitis and septicaemia - in children, carried out at Imperial College School of Medicine and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and funded by the Foundation.
During the study it was seen that a few clinical errors repeatedly led to delayed or inadequate treatment of cases of meningitis and septicaemia, often with devastating consequences. Within the booklet six case studies are looked at in which misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment were identified. By using these case studies Meningitis Research Foundation hopes that others will learn from mistakes made and lives will be saved.
In the last decade we saw cases of meningitis and septicaemia, the blood poisoning form, rise to a fifty-year high. Despite the resounding success of the recent vaccination programme against Group C meningococcal disease, cases of Group B disease and other forms, which are not vaccine preventable, have continued to cause alarm.
This booklet comes at a time when medical litigation has sky-rocketed, and the role of the junior doctor in identifying meningitis and septicaemia and treating appropriately has never been so crucial. This brand new resource aims to help junior doctors to recognise meningitis and septicaemia and deliver appropriate treatment.
Said Denise Vaughan, Chief Executive of Meningitis Research Foundation: "Meningitis and septicaemia can develop so quickly that a child could be fighting for life within hours of the onset of symptoms. This is why prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment are so crucial. We are delighted to be working with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to bring this vital new resource to junior doctors, which we hope will save lives."
Professor Alan Craft, RCPCH President commented: "The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health is pleased to support the Foundation's new resource for junior doctors. Because of the speed with which meningitis and septicaemia progress doctors need to be able to diagnose quickly and deliver appropriate treatment in order to save lives and reduce morbidity. This booklet will help doctors in their work."