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Resources for health professionals and their patients

Online and interactive meningitis resources for all health professionals who work with patients affected by meningitis and septicaemia.

Resources include treatment protocols and symptoms information, as well as general patient awareness materials. 

All resources have been developed in consultation with health professionals.

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Identification and management for ambulance personnel - Ireland

For: Ambulance personnel in Ireland


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

Download
Early management of suspected bacterial meningitis and meningococcal sepsis in immunocompetent adults
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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Bacterial meningitis and septicaemia in children: A discharge checklist​ - England, Wales and Northern Ireland
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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Bacterial meningitis and septicaemia in children: A discharge checklist​ - Scotland
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.
Download
Lessons from research for doctors in training: recognition and early management of meningococcal disease in children and young people
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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Lumbar Puncture in infants - Patient information sheet
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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Management of bacterial meningitis in children and young people
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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Management of meningococcal disease in children and young people
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.
Download
Management of bacterial meningitis in infants under three months of age
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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Vital signs for frontline nurses - Ireland
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.

The UK Nurses card is currently unavailable as we are reviewing and updating it in line with current guidelines
Download
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Meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia guidance notes: Diagnosis and treatment in general practice - Ireland - Booklet
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.

Please also download accompanying wall chart.
Download
Meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia guidance notes: Diagnosis and treatment in general practice - UK - Booklet
For: General Practitioners in the UK

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

Please also download accompanying wall chart.
Download
Meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia guidance notes: Diagnosis and treatment in general practice - Ireland - Wallchart
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.
Download
Meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia guidance notes: Diagnosis and treatment in general practice - UK - Wallchart
For: General Practitioners in the UK

A booklet to help in the recognition of meningococcal disease, particularly in the early stage, emphasising key factors to identify severely ill patients.
Download
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Am I at Risk?
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.
Download
Meningitis Baby Watch
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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Symptoms Card - Ireland
For: All in Ireland

Straight forward list of meningitis and septicaemia symptoms which fit handily into a wallet or purse - credit card sized
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Meningitis and Septicaemia: Know the Symptoms
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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Race Against Time
For: All

A symptoms leaflet addressing myths about meningitis and septicaemia.
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Symptoms for Students
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.
Download
Symptoms Card
For: All

Straight forward list of meningitis and septicaemia symptoms which fit handily into a wallet or purse - credit card sized
Download
Tot Watch
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.
Download
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Living with bereavement
For: People bereaved by meningitis and septicaemia.

A leaflet about helping to cope with the death of someone important in your life.
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Support for you
For: People affected by meningitis and septicaemia.

A leaflet describing how MRF can help you after a case of meningitis and septicaemia.
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Meningitis and septicaemia: What happens next?
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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Your Guide for Ireland
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.
Download
Your guide for the UK
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.
Download
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Your Guide - Emotional and behavioural effects of acquired brain injury
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Your Guide - Learning and Cognitive Effects
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Your Guide - Physical Effects of Acquired Brain Injury
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Your Guide - Sensory Effects of Acquired Brain Injury
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Your Guide - Speech, Language and Communication Problems
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Your Guide - Structure and Function of the Brain
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Your Guide - Amputation
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Your Guide - Amputee Rehabilitation
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Your Guide - Bone Growth Problems
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Your Guide - Kidney Damage
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Your Guide - Skin Scarring
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Your Guide - External Fixators for Limb Correction
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Your Guide - Hearing Loss and Tinnitus after Meningitis
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Your Guide - Balance Problems
Download
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E Coli
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Fungal
Download
Group A streptococcal (GAS)
Download
Group B streptococcal (GBS)
Download
Haemophilus Influenzae B (Hib)
Download
Listeria
Download
Meningococcal
Download
Group W meningococcal (MenW)
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Pneumococcal
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Rarer types
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Salmonella
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Tuberculosis (TB)
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Viral
Download
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MenACWY vaccine
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Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine
Download
Pneumococcal Meningitis – Vaccinations
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The routine infant meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine against meningitis and septicaemia
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Hib (Haemophilus Influenzae Type B) vaccine
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Improved protection against Meningococcal C (MenC) meningitis and septicaemia in the UK
Download
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One Life. One shot. Poster
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
One Life. One Shot. Flyer
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
Trust your Instincts. Flyer
For: Parents and carers of children

Meningitis and sepsis: Could you spot the signs? - Trust your instincts
Download
Trust your Instincts poster
For: Parents and carers of children

Meningitis and sepsis: Could you spot the signs? - Trust your instincts
Download

On line learning

Improving the recognition, diagnosis and management of bacterial meningitis in young infants

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.

Access the E-tool

Clinician's guide to recognition and early management of meningococcal disease in children

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.

Access the e-tool

Print versions
Many printed versions of these resources are free to order if you are in the UK or Ireland.
Order online
Causes of meningitis and septicaemia
What causes meningitis?
Find out more
The symptoms of meningitis
Meningitis and septicaemia can kill in hours - know the symptoms.
Symptoms checker
12 Days of Christmas

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