title: Future challenges in the elimination of bacterial meningitis.
abstract: Despite the widespread implementation of several effective vaccines over the past few decades, bacterial meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis and Group B Streptococcus (GBS) still results in unacceptably high levels of human mortality and morbidity. A residual disease burden due to bacterial meningitis is also apparent due to a number of persistent or emerging pathogens, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp. and Streptococcus suis. Here, we review the current status of bacterial meningitis caused by these pathogens, highlighting how past and present vaccination programs have attempted to counter these pathogens. We discuss how improved pathogen surveillance, implementation of current vaccines, and development of novel vaccines may be expected to further reduce bacterial meningitis and related diseases in the future.
authors.affiliation: Novartis Vaccines & Diagnostics srl, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bottomley
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Serruto
authors.forename: Marco Aurélio Palazzi
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sáfadi
authors.forename: Keith P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Klugman
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*