National public health surveillance has recently detected an increase in invasive Neisseria meningitidis (N men) disease caused by isolates that are resistant to ciprofloxacin. In February 2024, the CDC addressed this issue in a report Selection of Antibiotics as Prophylaxis for Close Contacts of Patients with Meningococcal Disease in Areas with Ciprofloxacin Resistance — United States, 2024. In Southern California, six cases of invasive disease caused by ciprofloxacin-resistant N men (including one case in Orange County) have been identified in the last year, representing >20% of all N men cases in the region during that time.
Based on this data, and in conjunction with the California Department of Public Health and surrounding counties, OCHCA no longer recommends use of ciprofloxacin for chemoprophylaxis for close contacts of persons with invasive meningococcal disease in Orange County. More info...
