title: Microbiological epidemiological history of meningococcal disease in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
abstract: The main objectives of the present study were to investigate the clinical and laboratory features of meningococcal disease in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the overlap of 2 epidemics in the 1990s. We conducted a study of a series of cases of meningococcal disease admitted in a Meningitis Reference Hospital. All clinical isolates available were analyzed by means of microbiological epidemiological markers. In 1990, Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B:4,7:P1.19,15, 1.7,1 sulfadiazine-resistant of the ET-5 complex emerged causing epidemic disease. Despite mass vaccination campaign (VaMengoc B+C®), the ET-5 clone remained hyperendemic after the epidemic peaked. In 1993 to 1995, an epidemic of serogroup C belonged to the cluster A4 overlapped, with a significant shift in the age distribution toward older age groups and an increase of sepsis. Serogroup C epidemics are a recurrent problem in Rio de Janeiro, which can be hindered with the introduction of a conjugate vaccine. We hope the data presented here brings useful information to discuss vaccines strategies and early management of suspected cases.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Estadual de Infectologia São Sebastião, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. barroso@ioc.fi ocruz.br
authors.forename: David Eduardo
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Barroso
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Casagrande
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Rebelo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zahner
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Solari
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Nogueira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D058872:Epidemics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D032541:Mass Vaccination; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000145:classification*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult