Bacterial meningitis: a serious infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, caused by certain bacteria, such as Neisseria meningitidis
Booster: another dose of an immunizing agent administered after a patient has received the primary vaccination series. The booster dose is intended to stimulate immunologic memory response to sustain the immune response produced by the primary dose or doses
Boostable memory response: an attribute of the immune system by which an encounter with an antigen induces a heightened state of immune reactivity and the additional production of antibodies
Carriage: the presence of bacteria in an individual that does not cause disease in that individual, but can spread to others and cause illness
Herd immunity: protection of unvaccinated individuals from a particular disease due to immunity that exists in the majority of the population, usually because of high vaccination rates
Hib vaccine: a vaccine that provides immunization against Haemophilus influenzae type b, a bacterium that can cause one type of meningitis, usually in infants and children younger than 2 years of age
Immunization: the process by which a person mounts an immune response after exposure to a foreign antigen; often used interchangeably with vaccination or inoculation
Inflammation: changes in the tissues of the body in response to infection, injury, or disease; signs of inflammation include swelling, pain, heat, and redness
Meninges: three-layer lining that protects and cushions the brain and spinal cord
Meningitis: inflammation of the meninges
Meningococcal disease: a bacterial infection that often causes severe swelling of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord or a serious blood infection; caused by Neisseria meningitidis
Meningococcal meningitis: severe swelling of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meninges) caused by Neisseria meningitidis
Meningococcal vaccine: any vaccine that provides protection against Neisseria meningitidis, a bacterium that can cause meningitis or severe bloodstream infection
Meningococcemia: infection of the blood (sepsis) caused by Neisseria meningitidis
Neisseria meningitidis: the bacterium that causes meningococcal disease
Outbreak: an increase in the number of cases of a specific infectious illness within a setting or population, over a specific timeframe. The number of cases needed to declare an outbreak varies by disease and the size of the setting or population.
Pneumococcal vaccine: a vaccine that provides protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacterium that can cause one type of meningitis
Purpuric rash: A potential sign of meningococcal disease; typically appears as flat, dark purple spots on the arms, legs and then the torso or trunk
Quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine: a vaccine that protects against infection from four meningococcal serogroups (A, C, W, and Y)
Secondary case: a case of disease that occurs among close contacts of a primary case-patient 24 hours after onset of illness in the primary case
Serogroup: a group of closely-related organisms having similar antigens; types of bacteria that cause meningococcal disease (A, B, C, W, and Y)
Serogroup B meningococcal vaccine: a vaccine that protects against meningococcal serogroup B infection
Titer: the measure of the level of antibodies in blood
Vaccine: an antigenic formulation that produces immunity, protecting the body from disease
Viral meningitis: meningitis caused by a virus; usually less severe than bacterial meningitis and cannot be prevented through vaccination
March 2015
