 The bacterial infection leads to massive bleeding into one or (usually) both adrenal glands.It is characterized by overwhelming bacterial infection meningococcemia leading to massive blood invasion, organ failure, coma, low blood pressure and shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with widespread purpura, rapidly developing adrenocortical insufficiency and death.Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome can be caused by a number of different organisms (see below).