Meningococcal infection

The article provides a brief description of the prevalence of meningococcal infection in our country and abroad. The basics of the classification of Neisseria meningitidis are outlined, in particular, the division into serogroups, serotypes, and serosubtypes. The pathogenicity factors of meningococcus (capsular polysaccharides, lipopolysaccharide, outer membrane proteins) are considered in detail. Particular attention is paid to the problems of carriage of meningococcus and the problems of transition of the pathogen from forms characteristic of carriage to forms characteristic of an active infectious process. Much attention is paid to the role of biofilms in the colonization of the host’s nasopharynx. The dependence of the epidemic profile of the incidence of meningitis of meningococcal etiology on the state of the immune status of the population is shown.