Global Trends of Research on Meningococcal Disease in the 21st century

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Meningococcal disease (MD), caused by Neisseria meningitides (Nm), presents significant global public health challenges due to high morbidity and mortality.
• Despite over two centuries of study, MD remains a critical area of research and concern worldwide.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a bibliometric analysis of the evolving research landscape of meningococcal disease.
• To identify key research trends, leading countries, institutions, and impactful research areas in MD.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis using Web of Science (WoS) database indicators.
• Analysis included publication volume, country, author, affiliation, citations, journals, keywords, and research impact bursts.
• Visualization tools and keyword co-occurrence analysis were employed.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in publication volume on MD observed after the year 2000.
• The United States and European nations (UK, France) are prominent in MD research.
• Key research focuses include vaccine development, immunization, epidemic prevention, and disease control.

Conclusions:

• Bibliometric analysis reveals dynamic growth and key focus areas in meningococcal disease research.
• The findings provide a valuable research map to guide future investigations in MD.
• Continued focus on vaccines and prevention strategies is evident in the scientific literature.