Meningitis (bacterial) and meningococcal disease

This quality standard covers recognising, diagnosing and managing bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease in babies, children, young people and adults. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement.

Last reviewed: 4 December 2024

This quality standard was updated and replaced the previous version published in 2012. The topic was identified for update following the annual review of quality standards. The review identified:

• changes in the priority areas for improvement
• new (or updated) guidance on bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease: recognition, diagnosis and management.

For more information, see update information.

How to use NICE quality standards and how we develop them

Quality standards help you improve the quality of care you provide or commission. They apply in England and Wales (see the UK government website and Welsh government website). Decisions on how they apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland are made by ministers in the Scottish government and Northern Ireland Executive.

Find out how to use quality standards and how we develop them.

This quality standard was previously called meningitis (bacterial) and meningococcal septicaemia in children and young people.