title: [Clinical features and prognostic factors of meningococcal disease: a case series study in Chile during the 2012-2013 outbreak].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Meningococcal disease (MD) is a major global problem because of its case fatality rate and sequels. Since 2012 cases of serogroup W have increased in Chile, with nonspecific clinical presentation, high case fatality rate and serious consequences.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the evolution and outcome of MD cases between January 2012 and March 2013 in Chile.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series considering 149 MD cases of 7 regions. A questionnaire was applied and clinical records were reviewed, including individual, agent, clinical course and healthcare process variables. The analysis allowed to obtain estimates of the OR as likelihood of dying.
  
  
  RESULTS
  51.5% was meningococcemia, the case fatality rate reached 27%, prevailing serogroup W (46.6%). Factors that increased the probability of dying: > age, belonging to indigenous people, having lived a stressful event, having diarrhea, impaired consciousness, cardiovascular symptoms, low oxygen saturation and low Glasgow coma scale score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The case fatality rate exceeded normal levels and was higher in serogroup W. Increasing in this serogroup, associated to the increased presence of nonspecific symptoms or rapid progression to septicemia, hit a health system accustomed to more classic meningococcal disease presentation, which could partly explain the observed increased fatality rate.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Matute
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olea
authors.forename: Darío
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loayza
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nájera
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Poffald
authors.forename: Macarena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirmas
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pedroni
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alfaro
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gormaz
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sanhueza
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vial
authors.forename: Jeannette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dabanch
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gallegos
authors.forename: Ximena
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Aguilera
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult