title: Changes in the evolution of meningococcal disease, 2001-2008, Catalonia (Spain).
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Generalitat of Catalonia, Roc Boronat 81-95, 08005 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dominguez
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oviedo
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minguell
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jansa
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Codina
authors.forename: Julio A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Vazquez
mesh_terms: 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