Ways to help prevent spreading the disease include following good hygiene practices, such as washing hands, not sharing water bottles or other drinks and food, avoiding cigarettes and generally not transmitting or sharing items that have been in your or someone else’s mouth. Cover your mouth when you sneeze and look away from other people. Get adequate sleep and exercise. Eat balanced meals.

There are vaccines available for bacterial meningitis. Consult with your doctor for more information.

There are two vaccines against Neisseria meningitidis available in the U.S. Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4 or Menomune) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and available since 1981. The newer meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4 or Menactra) licensed in 2005 is recommended by CDCfor 11 up to 55 years old. Both vaccines can prevent 4 types (A, C, Y, W-135) of  Neisseria Meningitidis. 

Trumenba was the first vaccine approved by FDA on October 2014  to prevent serogroup B Neiserria Meningitidis in individuals 10 through 25 years old. The vaccine is administered in a three-dose series on a 0, 2, & 6 month schedule.

The other vaccine FDA approved on January 2015 is Bexsero currently being used in Europe, Canada & Australia. This vaccine was the one given to students when Princeton University & UCSB had the Meningococcal meningitis B outbreak. Bexsero can be given to 2 months old starting with 3 doses with a booster @ 12-15 months, toddlers and above start with 2 dose series with a booster @ 23 months.

Vaccines are also effective for the control of epidemics and are currently recommended for travelers to certain parts of the world.