[Epidemiology of purpura fulminans and early therapeutic recommendations].

Despite major advances in pediatrics intensive care, meningococcemia remains an important cause of mortality en France (10 to 30%). Parenteral antibiotic given immediately is associated with a substantial reduction in mortality. So the Conseil supérieur d'hygiène publique de France recommend that general practitioners should administer promptly, preferably intravenously, whenever purpura fulminans is suspected, ceftriaxone (i.m., i.v.), cefotaxime (i.v.) or Amoxicillin (i.m., i.v.).