Relationship between bacterial meningitis and acellular pertussis vaccine

We studied case reports of bacterial meningitis and estimated its incidence per 100,000 in three areas of Osaka Prefecture which differed in population and vaccination schedule for the years of 1987 and 1988. To estimate incidence, we used a simple mathematical method derived from surveillance data for a reported number of exanthem subitum to obtain a coverage constant. With this coverage constant, we estimated the incidence of bacterial meningitis per 100,000 population for each area. In the Toyono area, with a population of about one million, the acellular pertussis vaccine series is started in children of three to six months of age and the incidence of bacterial meningitis per 100,000 was 1.95 in 1987 and 5.35 in 1988. Conversely, in Osaka City and Sakai City, with populations of about 2.6 and 0.8 million, respectively, the vaccine is given to children over two years of age and the incidence of bacterial meningitis per 100,000 was estimated to be 6.25 and 3.23 in 1987 and 14.62 and 1.07 in 1988, respectively. Thirteen cases of bacterial meningitis had been reported by Minoh City Hospital, in the Toyono area, and the Osaka City Infectious Disease Center in 1987 and 1988. Patients were seven males and six females and aged from less than a month to four years old. In six, the causal agent was Haemophilus influenzae type B, in three, Group B streptococcus, in two, Neisseria meningitidis and in one, Listeria monocytogenes. Only one of the thirteen patients had received an acellular pertussis vaccine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)