On the morning of 21/2, Nguyen Bich Tuyen, a 47-year-old patient from Tam Binh commune, Vinh Long province, was admitted to Can Tho General Hospital in a severe state of septic shock. Her symptoms included dry lips, a dirty tongue, rapid and deep breathing, critically low blood pressure, a fast and weak pulse, altered consciousness, and mottled skin.

Medical staff examine patient Nguyen Bich Tuyen. Photo: Kim Dieu

The most striking symptom, immediately alerting the on-duty doctor to a potential meningococcal infection (Neisseria meningitidis), was a hemorrhagic rash with scattered necrosis covering her body.

Drawing on her experience, Doctor Lam Phuong Thuy, Deputy Head of the Intensive Care and Anti-poison Department, promptly recognized the condition upon the patient's arrival. She quickly isolated the patient in a separate room and initiated emergency treatment. This included intubation for respiratory support, fluid resuscitation, vasopressors, and antibiotics targeting both meningococcus and Streptococcus suis. Doctors also performed tests to diagnose potential complications.

The medical team consulted with infectious disease specialists and CDC Can Tho, sending samples to the Pasteur Institute HCMC for definitive pathogen identification. The Pasteur Institute HCMC later confirmed the patient tested positive for Neisseria meningitidis Type B, consistent with the initial clinical diagnosis. The patient developed critical complications, including multi-organ failure, coagulopathy, and severe blood acidosis, all life-threatening conditions. Consequently, she received blood transfusions to correct the coagulopathy and underwent continuous hemodialysis.

After 12 days of intensive treatment and care, the patient's health improved significantly. Doctors stopped hemodialysis, extubated her, and her vital signs stabilized.

According to doctors, meningococcal disease is an acute infectious illness caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, transmitted through the respiratory tract with diverse clinical manifestations. The disease typically has a sudden and rapid onset, quickly progressing to endotoxic shock, cardiovascular collapse, acute renal failure, and coagulopathy. Without prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment, it often becomes critical and can lead to rapid death within one to two days.

An Binh