Neisseria meningitis
Kingdom-Bacteria
Phylum-Proteobacteria
Class-Beta Proteobacteria
Order-Neisseriales
Family-Neisseriaceae
Genus-Neisseria
Species-N. meningitis

Neisseria meningitides is a gram negative, diplococci, aerobic, pathogenic organism. This organism is the common cause of bacterial meningitis in young children and adults alike. Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, which are the protective membranes covering the brain and the spinal cord. Because inflammation in this very sensitive area can cause permanent damage, bacterial meningitis should be considered a medical emergency. Bacterial meningitis exclusively infects humans and it has proven to be very contagious. It is primarily spread through the exchange of respiratory droplets, and secretions. The disease can manifest in a variety of symptoms, ranging from a transient fever, severe headache, to neck stiffness. A classic triad of symptoms are neck stiffness, sudden high fever, and altered mental status. Mortality rates can be very high if the infection is not treated quickly and appropriately. Early detection and skilled medical care are paramount when treating this disease. The most effective test for diagnosing bacterial meningitis is by testing the cerebrospinal fluid. This test is administered by a skilled physician who will collect the CSF by performing a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap. The CSF is then sent to a lab and it is tested for WBCs, RBCs, protein content, and glucose levels. Typically, if the glucose content is low, and the protein level is high it is indicative bacterial meningitis. There are other tests that are available but the collecting and testing of CSF is the most common test performed and the timeliest. The persons who are at a higher risk of contracting this disease are infants,