Hospital-based surveillance of meningococcal meningitis in Salvador, Brazil.
This study aimed to describe the clinical, epidemiological and microbiological features of meningococcal meningitis in Salvador, Brazil. Between February 1996 and January 2001, a hospital-based surveillance prospectively identified cases of culture-positive meningococcal meningitis. Demographic and clinical data were collected through interview and medical chart review. Antisera and monoclonal antibodies were used to determine the serogroup and serotype:serosubtype of the isolates, respectively. Surveillance identified a total of 408 cases of meningococcal meningitis, with a case fatality rate of 8% (32/397). The mean annual incidence for the 304 culture-positive cases residing in metropolitan Salvador was 1.71 cases per 100,000 population. Infants <1 year old presented the highest incidence (14.7 cases per 100,000 population). Of the 377 serogrouped isolates, 82%, 16%, 2% and 0.3% were serogroups B, C, W135 and Y, respectively. A single serotype:serosubtype (4,7:P1.19,15) accounted for 64% of all cases. Continued surveillance is necessary to characterise strains and to define future prevention and control strategies.
Gonçalo Moniz Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Rua Waldemar Falcão 121, Salvador, Bahia 40296-710, Brazil.
Soraia M
SM
Cordeiro
Alan B
AB
Neves
Cássio T
CT
Ribeiro
Maya L
ML
Petersen
Edilane L
EL
Gouveia
Guilherme S
GS
Ribeiro
Tatiana S
TS
Lôbo
Joice N
JN
Reis
Kátia M
KM
Salgado
Mitermayer G
MG
Reis
Albert I
AI
Ko
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence; D012703:Serotyping; D016896:Treatment Outcome