[Surveillance system for assessing central nervous infections in Lower Saxony 1998-2000]

In cooperation with the district public health authorities in Lower Saxony a surveillance system for infections of the central nervous system was established from 1998 to 2000. Reporting was based on special questionnaires. It was the objective of this system to obtain information on the pathogens responsible for these infections and the corresponding age distribution.

An increased risk was found for children under the age of 15. About two-thirds of all reported central nervous infections were observed in this age group. The most frequent bacteria identified had been Meningococci, Pneumococci and Borrellia burgdorferi. They accounted for about 56 % of the reported bacterial infections. With respect to viral meningitis/encephalitis, enteroviruses were isolated in about 66 % of these cases. Twenty-five of all 628 reported cases had a lethal outcome which was more often associated with bacterial than viral infections.

Infections of the central nervous system still play an important role in clinical and public health medicine. For the future an intensive and ongoing surveillance of these infectious diseases is required and should exceed the regulations of the official notification system. To this end, a prospective register for meningitis and encephalitis cases will be set up in Lower Saxony in cooperation with hospitals and laboratories.