[Epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in France in 2002]

In France, two sources of data, the mandatory notification and the hospital laboratory network EPIBAC, allow the health authorities to monitor the incidence of bacterial meningitis. In 2002 around 1,500 cases were estimated in France. The more common microorganisms were: Streptococcus pneumoniae 49% (incidence 1.19/100,000), Neisseria meningitidis 33% (incidence 0.83) and Streptococcus agalactiae (Streptococcus B) 11% (incidence 0.27). Listeria monocytogenes accounted for 4% of the cases (incidence 0.11) and Haemophilus influenzae accounted for 3% (incidence 0.08). Trends in incidence showed an increase of meningococci meningitis since 1996, a steady decrease of H. influenzae and Listeria meningitis since 1992, and a quasi stable number of pneumococci meningitis, streptococci B meningitis and tuberculosis meningitis in the last 10 years. The impact of preventive measures on the incidence of Listeria meningitis and H. influenzae b meningitis has been clearly demonstrated through the dramatic decrease of meningitis due to these microorganisms.