Meningitis

A coworker`s newborn son passed away at two months after battling bacterial meningitis. We all feel so sad for him and anyone with infants started to wonder what can be done to avoid such infections.

My son received the Conjugate vaccine at 2 months with two booster shots before 18 months.
Does anyone know more about vaccinations against meningitis? Is it true they do not fully work until age 2? Do they only protect against viral meningitis (I guess anything bacterial requires antibiotics instead)? And what can be done to protect infants from illnesses as meningitis before they ever get their first vaccinations? Just stay away from crowds and hospitals??

[Me2mommy2b]

Trial, my heart goes out to your coworker and her family.  That's terrible.  Those are great questions to ask your pediatrician.  Unfortunately, I don't know the answers but now I'll find out more about it.  That's scary.

[Trialanderror]

Thank you, Mommy2b, yes, they are devastated...
Our pediatrician is a vague guy. He always replies: "Wait and see, apply some vaseline and come back in a month." I usually find more info on MH thanks to you guys!

I just looked up some info in the Merck manual, it doesn`t answer everything but I came across this Group B Strep infection at birth again most of us get tested for shortly before childbirth --- so that GBS test could be a really important factor. If infection of the newborn occurs, another source said it can happen within a day of birth or in other cases late-onset after a week up to a month. The co-worker`s baby had fallen sick after  a month.

So this is from the Merck manual:
"Meningitis in newborns usually results from an infection of the bloodstream (sepsis). The infection is typically caused by bacteria acquired from the birth canal, most commonly group B streptococci, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes."

And if it is acquired later (not related to childbirth), I guess it goes the usual way as colds are transmitted. So it is probably a good idea to not let everyone handle nor kiss our infants when they are that young.

Merck again:
"Older infants and children usually develop infection through contact with respiratory secretions from infected people. Bacteria that infect older infants and children include Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis. Haemophilus influenzae type b was the most common cause of meningitis, but widespread vaccination against that organism has now made it a rare cause. Newer, improved vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis (pneumococcal and meningococcal conjugate vaccines) should also make these organisms rare causes of childhood meningitis."

[babyscience]

Wow, that is so sad a perfectly healthy baby getting so sick like that!  Who knew that could happen?!?!  One more thing for parents to worry about!!!