Table 6.

Chemoprophylaxis of invasive meningococcal disease (recommendation of RKI, see “RKI-Ratgeber Meningokokken” at www.rki.de, Information downloaded 13.9.2022)

Antibiotics and age groups	Dosage
Rifampicin 1,2:
Adolescents and adults > 60 kg	600 mg q 12h for 2 days p.o.
Infants, children and adolescents < 60 kg	10 mg/kg q 12h for 2 days p.o.
Newborns	5 mg/kg q 12h for 2 days p.o.
Ciprofloxacin 2,3:
adults	500 mg single shot p.o.
Ceftriaxone 4
adults and children ≥ 12 years	250 mg single shot i.m.
children < 12 years	125 mg single shot i.m.
Azithromycin 5
adults	500 mg single shot p.o.

¹see recommendations Robert-Koch Instituts, www.Rki.de, ²not in pregnant women, ³Only adults, not in pregnant or lactating women, ⁴ceftriaxone is considered first choice in pregnant women (according to RKI), ⁵As there is little evidence up to date and as there is a risk of the development of resistance, azithromycin should be preserved as an alternative for pregnant women