The role of healthcare delivery in the treatment of meningococcal disease

A paper in today's BMJ looks at whether suboptimal treatment in hospital contributes to poor outcome in children with meningococcal disease.

This is what their study adds to existing knowledge, they say:

The quality of healthcare delivery in hospital for children with meningococcal disease differs in fatal and non-fatal cases;

Optimal early management of septicaemia and meningitis at the admitting hospital can improve outcome;

Improved outcome is associated with children being managed by paediatric teams and junior doctors being supervised by consultants;

Doctors should follow published protocols of care for fluid resuscitation, inotrope therapy, and referral to paediatric intensive care units.