Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery
10:03

Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery

Published on: November 5, 2019

Vaccines against bacterial meningitis

S Segal1, A J Pollard

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Level 4, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK. Shelley.segal@paediatrics.oxford.ac.uk

British Medical Bulletin
|April 2, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Meningitis significantly impacts children globally, particularly in developing nations. While vaccines for Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), pneumococcus, and meningococcus C have reduced invasive disease, global vaccine delivery remains a key challenge.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Meningitis is a major cause of child mortality and morbidity worldwide.
  • Developing countries bear a disproportionate burden of meningitis cases.
  • Encapsulated bacteria like Hib, pneumococcus, and meningococcus are significant pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the ongoing impact of meningitis in children.
  • To acknowledge the success of existing vaccines.
  • To identify vaccine delivery as a critical challenge in meningitis prevention.

Main Methods:

  • Review of epidemiological data on meningitis.
  • Analysis of the impact of routine immunization programs.
  • Assessment of global vaccine distribution challenges.

Main Results:

  • Effective immunization has significantly reduced invasive disease and carriage of Hib, pneumococcus, and meningococcus C.
  • Meningitis remains a critical public health issue, especially in resource-poor settings.
  • Vaccine delivery to underserved populations is the primary obstacle to widespread prevention.

Conclusions:

  • Routine immunization is effective but insufficient to eliminate meningitis burden.
  • Global vaccine delivery strategies must be prioritized to reach high-burden regions.
  • Addressing logistical and economic barriers is crucial for meningitis prevention worldwide.

More Related Videos

Opsono-Adherence Assay to Evaluate Functional Antibodies in Vaccine Development Against Bacillus anthracis and Other Encapsulated Pathogens13:47

Opsono-Adherence Assay to Evaluate Functional Antibodies in Vaccine Development Against Bacillus anthracis and Other Encapsulated Pathogens

Published on: May 19, 2020

Enrichment of Native and Recombinant Extracellular Vesicles of Mycobacteria06:38

Enrichment of Native and Recombinant Extracellular Vesicles of Mycobacteria

Published on: December 8, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics01:29

Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in vaccine development, gene therapy, and therapeutic production. Their biological properties are harnessed to advance medicine and public health. Beyond immunization, microorganisms contribute to gut health, antibiotic synthesis, and genetic disease treatment.Live Attenuated and Inactivated VaccinesLive attenuated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, utilize weakened forms of pathogens to closely resemble natural infections.
Vaccines01:21

Vaccines

Vaccines are among the most effective tools in preventive medicine, designed to prepare the immune system to recognize and combat infectious agents. By introducing antigens—substances that the immune system identifies as foreign—vaccines stimulate an adaptive immune response that leads to immunological memory. This immunological memory enables the body to mount a faster and more effective response upon future exposures to the actual pathogen.Vaccines can be categorized based on the type of...
Bacterial Meningitis01:24

Bacterial Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is a severe infectious disease involving inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It occurs when pathogenic bacteria cross the blood–brain barrier and enter the cerebrospinal fluid. Common causative organisms include Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli K1. The exact route of entry varies by pathogen and host condition.Routes of Entry...
Viral Meningitis01:18

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction01:22

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...