[Meningococcal infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C].
BACKGROUND
In recent years an increase has been observed in the prevalence of meningococcal infection by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C and in the appearance of strains with moderate resistance to penicillin.


METHODS
A microbiologic study of the cases of meningococcal infection of serogroup C treated from 1995 to 1996 in the health care area of Ferrol (La Coruña, Spain) was carried out.


CONCLUSIONS
Twenty-nine cases were detected in 1995 and 28 in 1996. Meningococcal infection was observed in patients ranging from 8 months to 21 years of age (mean 5.7 years). Distribution by sex was homogeneous. Two patients died. According to the clinical presentation, 11 were sepsis (38%), 4 meningitis (14%) and 14 both processes (48%). In 4 LCR samples, the analytical study was normal with posterior positive culture results. The detection of bacterial antigen by latex agglutination in CSF only detected 32% of the cases. MIC study determined that 11 strains (38%) presented moderate resistance to penicillin, 9 with a MIC of 0.12 microgram/ml, one with a MIC of 0.25 microgram/ml and another with a MIC of 0.5 microgram/ml. In all the cases the strains were sensitive to cefotaxime (MIC < or = 0.06 microgram/ml) and rifampicin (MIC < or = 0.5 microgram/ml). All the strains belonged to serogroup C serotype 2b, serosubtype P1.2,5. During the study period 4 additional cases of meningococcal disease by serogroup B were observed.
Ursua
M I
MI
Servicio de Microbiología, Complejo Hospitalario Arquitecto Marcide-Profesor Novoa Santos, Ferrol, La Coruña.
Rodríguez-Mayo
M
M
Fernández-Quintairos
J
J
Domínguez
D
D
Luaces
J
J
Agulla
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology