Some Georgetown Students Receiving Antibiotics After Campus Meningitis Death

Students at Georgetown University who were in touch with fellow student Andrea Jaime before her death Tuesday from meningitis are being given antibiotics, according to a report by WJLA.

“This does not mean that these close contacts have the disease; it is to prevent it,” administrators told the TV station.

Georgetown is advising students and others at the university they can prevent meningitis by “paying increased attention to personal hygienic practices, including washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol based hand-sanitizers regularly. To further limit the spread of illness, you should also avoid sharing cups, cosmetics, toothbrushes, smoking materials or anything that comes in contact with the mouth.”

Signs and symptoms of bacterial meningitis can include high fever, headache, vomiting or stiff neck. Signs and symptoms of a bloodstream infection, which these bacteria can also cause, can include vomiting, chills, rapid breathing, or dark purple rash. These symptoms can develop over several hours, or they may take a few days.