Risk of laboratory-acquired meningococcal disease

Five probable secondary cases of meningococcal disease were identified in microbiology laboratory workers in England and Wales during a 15-year period. All cases had prepared suspensions of Neisseria meningitidis outside a safety cabinet upto seven days before onset of illness. Relative risk in laboratory workers compared with the background adult population was 184 (95% CI 60-431). In view of the potentially serious outcome from this infection, a safety cabinet should always be used when preparing or working with suspensions of meningococci. Vaccination policy for microbiology laboratory workers should be reviewed.