Abstract
For the last ten years, meningoooccal disease has been endemic in Italy with an annual average of 9'00 cases (rate of 1.6/100,000). The age specific attack rate has been highest for children under one year of age, and the majority of cases have been due to serogroup B. During 1985, the epidemiology of meningococcal disease changed substantially: twice as many cases were observed in males as in females. There was a shift toward older age groups, with the highest number of cases occurring in the 15–24 year old age group (25%). The treauency in army recruits was 17.31100;000, as opposed to 1/100,000 for the general population. Sero-group C caused the majority of cases (75.8% of the isolates). The proportion of strains resistant to sulfonamides was 71.1%, while only one strain was resistant to rifampin and none to minocyclin. Seven secondary cases occurred (2%): in five, chemoprophylaxis was inappropriate (sulfonamide), and in two, no drug was given. A single co-primary case was seen.
We conclude that in Italy, the use of sulfa drugs as chemoprophylactic agents is not warranted at present, compulsory vaccination of army recruits with bivalent vaccine (A+C) is advisable, and the shift in age distribution of cases and the high predominance of serogroup C increases the need for careful surveys.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abbot J.A., Jones D.M., Painter M.J., Young S.E.J. (1985): The Epidemiology of Meningococcal Infections in England and Wales, 1912–1983. - Journal of Infection 11: 241–257.
Band J.D., Chamberland M.E., Platt T., Weaver R.E., Thomsberry C., Fraser D.W. (1983): Trends in Meningococcal Disease in the United States, 1975–80. - J. Infect. Dis. 148, 754–758.
Greenwood B.M. (1984): Selective Primary Health Care: Strategies for Control of Disease in the Developing World. XIII. Acute Bacterial Meningitis.- Rev. Inf. Dis. 6, 374–389.
Jacobson J.A., Weaver R.E., Thomsberry C. (1975): Trends in Meningococcal Disease, 1974. - J. Infect. Dis. 132: 480–484.
Makela P.H., Kavhty H., Weckstroin P. (1975): Effect of Group A Meningococcal Vaccine in Army Recruits in Finland. - Lancet ii: 883–886.
McCormick J.B., Bennett J.V. (1975): Public Health Considerations in the Management of Meningococcal Disease. - Ann. Int. Med. 83: 883–886.
Meningococcal Disease Surveillance Group (1976): Meningococcal Disease: secondary attack rate and chemoprophylaxis in the United States, 1974. -JAMA, 235: 261–265.
Peltola H., Matti Kataia J., Makela P.H. (1982): Shift in the age distribution of Meningococcal Disease as predictor of an epidemic? Lancet ii: 595–597.
Peltola H., Jansdottir K. (1982): Meningococcal Disease in Scandinavia. - Br. Med. J. 284: 1618–1621.
Peltola H. (1983): Meningococcal Disease: Still With Us. - Rev. Infect. Dis. 5. 71–91.
Stroffolini T., Curianò C.M. (1984): Epidemiologia della Meningite Meningococcica in Italia. - Ann. Ist. Super. Sanità 20: 209–214.
Wenzel R.P., Davies T.A., Mitzel T.R. (1973): Non-usefulness of Meningococcal Carriage. Rates. -Lancet ii: 205.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stroffolini, T., Rosmini, F. & Curiano, C.M. A one year survey of meningococcal disease in Italy. Eur J Epidemiol 3, 399–403 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00145652
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00145652