title: Meningococcal disease in Italy in 1990.
abstract: The incidence of meningococcal disease in Italy in 1990 was 0.5/100,000 in the general population and 0.7/100,000 in army recruits. The highest proportion of cases (32%) was seen in subjects 1-4 years old. The sex ratio was 1.0 Serogroup B constituted 72% of the isolates; 16% belonged to group A and 12% belonged to group C. The proportion of strains resistant to suphonamides was 56%, while no strain was resistant to minocycline or rifampicin. Two secondary cases, but no comprimary cases occurred among civilians. The predominance of serogroup B and the further decline in military cases constitute the findings of major interest.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stroffolini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carbonari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008889:Military Personnel; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors