Intrafamilial meningococcal meningitis.

Two couples of sibs presented with meningococcal meningitis. In both families, immediate preventive measures were not taken due to a negative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) smear in the first case from Family A, and a negative CSF smear and culture in the first case from Family B. All the children were treated successfully. Our recommendations are: a) contacts of patients with pyogenic meningitis should have close clinical surveillance, and b) contacts of meningococcal infection should have nasopharyngeal cultures and should be given a prophylactic antibiotic such as rifampicin or minocycline.