The difference between Meningitis and Septicaemia

When bacteria cause disease i.e. meningococcal disease the body can be affected in different ways:

Meningitis - bacteria enter the blood stream and travel to the meninges and cause inflammation.
Septicaemia - when bacteria are present in the blood stream they can multiply rapidly and release toxins that poison the blood. (The rash associated with meningitis is due to septicaemia.)

Meningitis and septicaemia often occur together.