Detection of the serogoups and serotypes causing bacterial meningitidis in Bangui, 2012.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to identify the serogroup and serotypes causing bacterial meningitidis and to determine their prevalence in Bangui, Central African Republic.


METHODS
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with suspected meningitis were collected and tested with cell counts, Gram staining, cultures, the latex agglutination test (LAT), and real-time PCR that used specific primers and probes for S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis, and H. influenzae. Patients were eligible if they had a CSF sample as well as information about cell counts, Gram staining, the culture, the LAT, and the PCR. Antibiotic detection disks from Bio-Rad laboratory were used to test for the presence of antibiotic activity in the CSF. An uncorrected Chi2test was used for comparisons.


RESULTS
Of the 216 CSF samples collected, 71 were analyzed: 17 Gram stains were positive, as were 6 cultures, 15 LATs, and 33 PCRs. Among the latter, the serogroup distribution was highest for S. pneumoniae, which accounted for 82% (27/33) of the positive cases; H. influenzae type b accounted for 12% (4/33), and N. meningitidis A for 6% (2/33) positive cases. N. meningitidis No W135, N. meningitides B, N. meningitides X, or Streptococcus C serogroups were isolated.


CONCLUSIONS
One year after the introduction of the PCV 13 vaccine, S. pneumoniae was identified as the predominant disease-causing strain. This study demonstrated the essential role of laboratory confirmation of meningitis cases to assess changes in disease epidemiology.
Unité d'immunologie, de biologie moléculaire et de biochimie, Laboratoire national de biologie et santé publique, ministère de la Santé publique et de la Population, BP 1402 Bangui, République centrafricaine.
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Nambei
Unité d'immunologie, de biologie moléculaire et de biochimie, Laboratoire national de biologie et santé publique, ministère de la Santé publique et de la Population, BP 1402 Bangui, République centrafricaine.
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Gamba
Service des maladies infectieuses du service de santé des armées, ministère de la Défense, Bangui, République centreafricaine.
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Gbangbangai
Programme élargi de vaccination, ministère de la Santé publique, Bangui, République centrafricaine.
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RM
Ouambita
Unité d'immunologie, de biologie moléculaire et de biochimie, Laboratoire national de biologie et santé publique, ministère de la Santé publique et de la Population, BP 1402 Bangui, République centrafricaine.
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Dalengat-Vogbia
Unité d'immunologie, de biologie moléculaire et de biochimie, Laboratoire national de biologie et santé publique, ministère de la Santé publique et de la Population, BP 1402 Bangui, République centrafricaine.
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Nana
Analyse et gestion des données, Laboratoire national de biologie et santé publique, ministère de la Santé publique, Bangui, République centrafricaine.
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Senzongo
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002488:Central African Republic; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D065288:Serogroup; D055815:Young Adult
D004269:DNA, Bacterial
Central African Republic; RT-PCR; bacterial meningitis; serogroup; serotype