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Meningitis and encephalitis in Poland in 2017
Jakub Zbrzeźniak1, Iwona Paradowska-Stankiewicz1
1National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene, Department of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases and Surveillance
Introduction:
Meningitis are the most common form of the nervous system infectious diseases. There are meningitis and/or encephalitis with bacterial and viral etiology. In epidemiological surveillance are highlighted meningitis and/or encephalitis caused by N. meningitidis, S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and tick-borne encephalitis virus. Because vaccinations against these agents are common.
Aim Of The Study:
The aim of the study is to assess the epidemiological situation of meningitis and encephalitis in Poland in 2017.
Material And Methods:
The epidemiological situation of meningitis and encephalitis in Poland was assessed on data from the annual bulletin “Infectious diseases and poisoning in Poland in 2017” and “Vaccinations in Poland in 2017”. (MP Czarkowski et al., Warsaw 2018, NIZP-PZH, GIS).
Results:
In 2017 were registered 2 095 cases of meningitis and/or encephalitis in Poland. It means a 10.8% decrease in meningitis and/or encephalitis in Poland compared to 2016. With a general decrease in the number of infections of bacterial etiology, the number of cases of meningitis and/or encephalitis of S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae type B cases reported remains at the same level similar to last year. In contrast, the number of cases of etiology of N. meningitidis shows an increase of 25.4% compared to the previous year. Among all cases 57.9% were viral infections. In comparison to 2016 means a decrease in the percentage share of viral infections by 1.2 percentage points for bacterial infections. Among laboratory confirmed cases of neuroinfection with established etiology, the incidence caused by Neisseria miningitidis (122 cases), Streptococcus pneumoniae (171 cases) and tick-borne encephalitis (283 cases) are the most prevalent.
Summary And Conclusion:
There is a general downward trend in the number of meningitis and/or encephalitis cases, which may be due to introducing mandatory vaccination against S. pneumoniae. It can also mean an improvement in diagnostics given the decrease in unspecified meningitis and/or encephalitis. However meningitis and/or encephalitis remain a challenge for healthcare and epidemiological surveillance institutions.
Insights
Meningitis and encephalitis cases decreased by 10.8% in Poland in 2017, with a notable increase in Neisseria meningitidis infections. Continued surveillance is crucial for these challenging neuroinfections.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Meningitis and encephalitis are common infectious diseases of the nervous system with bacterial and viral causes.
- Key pathogens include Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and tick-borne encephalitis virus.
- Vaccinations are common for several causative agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the epidemiological situation of meningitis and encephalitis in Poland during 2017.
Main Methods:
- Data were sourced from the annual bulletins "Infectious diseases and poisoning in Poland in 2017" and "Vaccinations in Poland in 2017."
Main Results:
- A total of 2,095 cases were registered in Poland in 2017, a 10.8% decrease from 2016.
- While bacterial infections generally decreased, cases of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type B remained stable.
- Neisseria meningitidis infections increased by 25.4%, and viral infections constituted 57.9% of all cases.
Conclusions:
- A downward trend in meningitis and encephalitis cases may be linked to S. pneumoniae vaccination and improved diagnostics.
- Despite the decrease, meningitis and encephalitis continue to pose challenges to healthcare and epidemiological surveillance.
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