[Invasive meningococcal disease: increased risk and vaccination prevention for immunocompromised patients]

The development of evidence-based guidelines for the prevention of infectious diseases through vaccination requires an understanding of populations that most likely may obtain an infection, severe illness or disease. Targeted vaccination recommendations are made possible by identifying risk groups, as is the case with meningococcal infections. Despite falling case numbers, meningococcal sepsis and meningococcal meningitis remain a major health problem.

A systematic literature search was carried out on the research platform Ovid.

Vulnerable groups of people whose immune system is limited by primary and secondary immunodeficiency, such as asplenia, renal failure, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, diabetes, complement deficiency, organ and stem cell transplants, or immunomodulatory therapy (e.g., in rheumatic, hematological or oncological diseases), are exposed to an increased risk of infection and more severe courses of disease. Despite adequate medical care, the mortality rate is high and patients that survived the infection are often suffering from severe long-term sequelae. In such cases, the vaccination recommendations of the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) for indication vaccinations and the application instructions for vaccination in the case of immune deficiency should be consistently implemented in Germany.

Increased responsibility for comprehensive protection must be assumed for persons with underlying diseases. Reducing invasive meningococcal infections can be achieved through widespread education of patients and contacts, as well as practicing physicians on available vaccinations.