Changes in the evolution of meningococcal disease, 2001-2008, Catalonia (Spain).
Reported cases of meningococcal disease between 1997 and 2008 were analyzed to determine the evolution after the introduction of a conjugated vaccine. In <6 years, the incidence rate of serogroup C fell from 7.6 to 0.6 per 100,000 persons/year in the periods before (1997-2000) and after (2001-2007) the introduction of the conjugate vaccine. In serogroup B, the reduction was from 15.4 to 11.1. In <20 years case-fatality-rate increased only in serogroup B (3% and 7.4%, p=0.026). Serosubtype P1.15 was the most frequent in serogroup B (31%), mainly associated with serotype 4 (80%), and in serogroup C subtype P1.5 (36%), with serosubtype 2a (86%). Exhaustive surveillance of circulating meningococcal strains is essential.
Martínez
Ana I
AI
Department of Health, Generalitat of Catalonia, Roc Boronat 81-95, 08005 Barcelona, Spain.
Dominguez
Angela
A
Oviedo
Manuel
M
Minguell
Sofia
S
Jansa
Josep M
JM
Codina
Gemma
G
Vazquez
Julio A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification; D012703:Serotyping; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination