title: Epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in Lombardy Region in the period 2000-2006.
abstract: Epidemiological study of bacterial meningitis, particularly those forms susceptible to vaccination, is an indispensable tool in choosing vaccination strategies. Lombardy Region, where approximately 20% of the Italian population resides, has conducted an in-depth study on invasive meningococcal diseases and pneumococcal meningitis using available health statistics and performing a control of single cases to achieve complete knowledge of the phenomenon. The results, relating to the period 2000-2006, indicate limited incidence rates both for the general population and childhood age groups that do not justify hypotheses of a universal offering of the specific vaccines. However, the healthcare system must equip itself with additional tools for the identification of the serogroups and serotypes responsible for disease as a further support for possible choices modifying the current vaccination policies.
authors.affiliation: Regional Working Group on Surveillance and Control of Bacterial Meningitis, Regional Health Office, Lombardy, Italy. Anna_Pavan@regione.lombardia.it
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pavan
authors.forename: Spinello
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Antinori
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belloni
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boccazzi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Castelli
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gramegna
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Magliano
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marone
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montomoli
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tinelli
authors.forename: Gianvincenzo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zuccotti
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Macchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D008586:Meningitis, Pneumococcal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification