Meningococcal disease in Italy in 1989
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1Laboratorio di Epidemiologia, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Abstract:
Meningococcal disease in Italy decreased by 13.4% from 1988 to 1989. The incidence rate was 0.5/100,000 in the general population and 1.3/100,000 in army recruits. The highest proportion of cases (27%) was seen in subjects 5-14 years old. The sex ratio was 1.3. Forty-four percent of the isolates belonged to serogroup B; 37% belonged to group C. Forty-six percent of the strains were resistant to sulphonamides and 10% were resistant to minocycline; only 4% were resistant to rifampicin. None of the four military cases observed could be attributed to vaccine failure. One secondary case and no coprimary cases were observed among civilians. The shift in prevalence from serogroup C to serogroup B isolates is the most important finding of this study.
Insights
Meningococcal disease incidence declined in Italy. A key finding is the increasing prevalence of serogroup B over serogroup C, impacting public health strategies for this bacterial infection.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Meningococcal disease remains a significant public health concern globally.
- Surveillance of bacterial meningitis epidemiology is crucial for effective control strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze trends in meningococcal disease incidence and serogroup distribution in Italy between 1988 and 1989.
- To assess antimicrobial resistance patterns and identify the primary serogroups involved.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of epidemiological data on meningococcal disease cases in Italy.
- Microbiological characterization of isolates, including serogroup determination and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Main Results:
- A 13.4% decrease in meningococcal disease incidence was observed from 1988 to 1989.
- Serogroup B became more prevalent than serogroup C, representing 44% and 37% of isolates, respectively.
- Antimicrobial resistance was noted for sulphonamides (46%) and minocycline (10%), with low resistance to rifampicin (4%).
Conclusions:
- The study highlights a significant epidemiological shift towards serogroup B meningococcal isolates in Italy.
- Findings underscore the need for ongoing surveillance and adaptation of vaccination strategies to address evolving serogroup prevalence.