Resources for health professionals and their patients

For: Junior Doctors

Endorsed by: RCPCH and the Royal College of Emergency Medicine

A booklet to help doctors in the diagnosis and treatment of​ and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia.

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For: Doctors in A&E, PICU, Paediatrics and General Medicine

Endorsed by: RCPCH

This is an educational tool, not an evidence-based guideline.  It provides an opportunity to learn from real cases from the research study, using individual case histories as a basis for discussion and learning. The cases are presented in interactive question and answer format, linked to text, photos and audio.

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For: Doctors in A&E, PICU, Paediatrics and General Medicine in the UK

Distributed in partnership with NICE

Poster updating the original St Mary's/MRF protocol 'Early Management of Meningococcal Disease' in line with NICE guideline CG102.

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For: Doctors in A&E, PICU, Paediatrics and General Medicine in the UK

Distributed in partnership with NICE

Poster updating the original St Mary's/MRF protocol 'Early Management of Meningococcal Disease' in line with NICE guideline CG102.

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For: Doctors in A&E, Critical Care, Infectious Diseases and General Medicine

The algorithm focuses specifically on minimising delays in diagnosis and administration of antibiotics, appropriate use of monitoring, investigations, critical care facilities and management of the complications of the disease, primarily shock and raised intracranial pressure. As most adults with bacterial meningitis or meningococcal septicaemia present to clinicians with little experience of these conditions, the algorithm aids early recognition, stabilisation and institution of specific therapeutic measures, which are crucial to patient outcome.

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For: Doctors in A&E, PICU, Paediatrics and General Medicine in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

This checklist has been developed in consultation with clinicians with many years’ experience of treating and following up children after bacterial meningitis and septicaemia.

It incorporates NICE CG102 and QS19 and can be filed in the patient’s notes, allowing the clinician to document that recovery information has been relayed to families and appropriate assessment and review procedures have been followed.

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For: Doctors in A&E, PICU, Paediatrics and General Medicine in Scotland

This checklist has been developed in consultation with clinicians with many years’ experience of treating and following up children after bacterial meningitis and septicaemia.

It incorporates NICE CG102 and QS19 and can be filed in the patient’s notes, allowing the clinician to document that recovery information has been relayed to families and appropriate assessment and review procedures have been followed.

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For: Doctors in A&E, PICU, Paediatrics and General Medicine

Endorsed by: RCPCH

CPD: The RCPCH has approved this distance learning product from 3 May 2017 to 2 May 2019 in accordance with the current RCPCH CPD guidelines.

MRF-funded research identified a need for improved recognition, diagnosis and management of young infants with bacterial meningitis across the UK. The research uncovered a lack of recognition of clinical features in primary and secondary care leading to delays from the onset of first symptoms to treatment; delays in starting antibiotics; choice of antibiotics not being in conformity with NICE guidelines; delays in performing lumbar puncture and lack of consensus on long term follow up. 

Using real-life anonymised example scenarios from the research, this interactive eLearning tool provides an opportunity for clinicians to learn how to recognise, investigate, manage and appropriately follow up young infants who present with possible bacterial meningitis.

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For: Doctors in A&E, PICU, Paediatrics and General Medicine

This algorithm poster for clinicians can aid rapid identification and appropriate management of bacterial meningitis in infants under three months of age - an age group in which the symptoms are mostly non-specific and resemble many other less serious viral illnesses.

The algorithm can be used as a guide to help clinicians decide when it is appropriate to carry out further investigations in young infants, and provides information about timely and appropriate treatment with antibiotics and appropriate treatment duration, as well as information about appropriate follow up care.

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For: Doctors in A&E, PICU, Paediatrics and General Medicine

An information sheet which clinicians can give to parents of young infants presenting with possible bacterial meningitis, to explain why the lumbar puncture procedure is necessary and to help reassure about the safety of the procedure.

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For: Ambulance personnel in Ireland

Card to help ambulance personnel identify and manage meningococcal septicaemia in patients they are transporting to hospital.

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For: Frontline (Triage) Nurses in Ireland

Endorsed by: Endorsed by: Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation

This card focuses on the measurement of vital signs to detect the underlying symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia.

NB Guidance may differ outside of Ireland.

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The UK Nurses card is currently unavailable as we are reviewing and updating it in line with current guidelines

For: General Practitioners in Ireland

Endorsed by: IGCP

A booklet to help in the recognition of meningococcal disease, particularly in the early stage, emphasising key factors to identify severely ill patients.

Comes with accompanying wall chart.

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Download wallchart

For: Young people 15 - 25

Teenagers and young adults are the next most at risk age group after the under 5s.

This poster raises awareness of meningitis and septicaemia and their symptoms.

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For: The General Public in the UK and Ireland

A3 poster to help identify the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia in all age groups.

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For: Parents and other carers of babies and very small children

Babies have a higher risk of meningitis than any other age group.

This award winning pictorial representation of symptoms assists parents and other carers to recognise meningitis and septicaemia in babies and too young to explain how they are feeling.

Updated from the largest current national study of meningitis in newborn, funded by MRF.

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For: All

Straight forward list of meningitis and septicaemia symptoms which fit handily into a wallet or purse - credit card sized

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For: All

A symptoms leaflet addressing myths about meningitis and septicaemia.

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For: Parents and other carers of toddlers and young children under five years of age

The under fives are the most vulnerable age group. This leaflet explains the early symptoms: limb pain, cold hands and feet, and pallor as well as more severe symptoms and the tumbler test.

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For: People worried about the spread of meningococcal disease

A leaflet to distribute when there has been a case of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia in the community. Addresses concerns and gives the symptoms of the disease.

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For: People affected by meningitis and septicaemia

Leaflet describing how MRF can help you or your patients after a case of meningitis and septicaemia.

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For: People dealing with the after effects of meningitis and septicaemia.

This booklet gives information about potential after effects and was written with the help of health professionals representing the range of disciplines involved in looking after people recovering from meningitis and septicaemia.

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For: Parents and carers of children dealing with the after effects of meningitis and septicaemia in the UK

Jointly produced with Meningitis Now, this booklet has been written to help families following hospital discharge in the UK and provides in depth information about recovery, aftercare and potential after effects of meningitis and septicaemia.

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For: Parents and carers of children dealing with the after effects of meningitis and septicaemia in Ireland

This booklet has been written to help families following hospital discharge and provides in depth information about recovery, aftercare and potential after effects of meningitis and septicaemia.

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For: People bereaved by meningitis and septicaemia.

A factheet about helping to cope with the death of someone important in your life.

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For: Young people 15 - 25 in the UK

Teenagers and young adults are the next most at risk age group after the under 5s.

This doubled-sided flyer encourages UK students to get their free MenACWY vaccination

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For: Young people 15 - 25

Teenagers and young adults are the next most at risk age group after the under 5s.

This poster encourages UK students to get their free MenACWY vaccination

Download