Meningitis case in Regina Coeli prison in Rome

A case of Neisseria meningitidis has been reported in the Regina Coeli prison in Rome. The forty-year-old inmate is currently in the intensive care unit of the Lazzaro Spallanzani hospital. The case was confirmed by ASL Roma 1, the organisation responsible for the prison’s healthcare, which activated the required protocol. It involved the administration of prophylaxis to inmates, doctors, nurses, prison officers, and prison staff. All tests carried out were negative. The prisoner’s medical records and health diary were obtained to clarify the dynamics of the incident and assess any responsibilities regarding the hygienic-sanitary conditions of the detention centre. Neisseria or meningococcal meningitis is an infectious disease characterised by inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain or spinal cord due to the action of the bacterium known as meningococcus. If not adequately treated, the disease can cause potentially serious complications (e.g., encephalitis and/or myelitis) and sometimes even death (e.g., sepsis).