Meningococcal serogroups in New South Wales, 1977-1987

Data are presented on serogroups of meningococci (Neisseria meningitidis) that were submitted to Westmead Hospital and The Children's Hospital, Camperdown, from patients in Sydney and in rural areas of New South Wales, from January 1, 1977 to December 31, 1987. One hundred and ten organisms that were isolated from cerebrospinal fluid or from blood were examined. All organisms were isolated from sporadic cases of meningococcal disease. Patients in the zero-to-two-years' age-group were affected most commonly, but 36.3% of isolates were from older children and adults. The distribution of serogroups was as follows: serogroup B, 43.6; serogroup A, 28.2%; serogroup C, 10.0%; serogroup W135, 8.2%; serogroup Y, 4.5%; and serogroup Z, 0.9%. The isolates that were serogrouped by us represented approximately half the cases of meningococcal meningitis that were notified in New South Wales during this period. Serogrouping of meningococcal isolates is very important in order to follow epidemiological trends in the disease and to monitor the serogroups that cause outbreaks, where vaccination of contacts may be indicated. Our laboratories are prepared to receive isolates for serogrouping and antibiotic sensitivity testing from across New South Wales.