6. The mortality rate may be lower during epidemic
situations because heightened diagnostic
awareness may result in detection and treatment
of greater numbers of patients before the disease
progresses to a more lethal form.
Fulminant meningococcemia has the highest
mortality rate; it can exceed 50% despite the use
of appropriate antibiotic therapy. It can be as high
as 70% in developing countries. Survivors of
fulminant meningococcemia may have ischemic
complications.
Meningococcal meningitis without antibiotic
therapy is a uniformly fatal disease.