Abstract.
Background:
The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of meningococcal disease in Catalonia (Spain) after vaccination with the polysaccharide vaccine.
Patients and Methods:
Cases were collected by the Statutory Diseases Reporting System.
Results:
176 cases were reported, an overall incidence of 2.9/100,000 persons/year. 60% of cases occurred during winter and spring. The case fatality rate was 6.3%. The highest age incidence was in children under 2 years of age (48/100,000 persons/year). Comparison of the cases detected by the Statutory Diseases Reporting System with those obtained by the Microbiological Reporting System shows that meningococcal disease surveillance in Catalonia was relatively complete (95.7%), with a positive predictive value of 66.3%. 115 cases (65%) were culture-confirmed with a rate of 1.9/100,000 persons/year. 86 (75%) cases were due to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B and 21 to serogroup C (18%).
Conclusion:
Although infections due to serogroup C have decreased after mass vaccination with the polysaccharide vaccine, it is likely that the number of infections will decrease further with the conjugate meningococcal group C vaccine.
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*The Working Group on Meningococcal Disease in Catalonia: A. Domínguez, G. Carmona, A. Martínez, P. Ciruela, P. Garrido, P. Domingo, F. Sánchez, D. Fontanals, A. Retana, N. Camps, N. Follia, C. Casellas, M. Piqué, M. C. Roure, J. Batlle, P. Godoy, A. Artigues, A. Manonelles, A. Nogués, G. Mirada, P. Bach, T. Vallmanya, S. Minguell, N. Escatllar, J. Allué, J. M. Santamaría, M. Olona, J. Rebull, M.M. Pérez, J. S. Escribano, F. Ballester, R. Maldonado, C. Planas,T. Admella, H. Pañella, R.Verdaguer, M. Boronat, A. Martínez, M. Xercavins, M. Dougan, A. Orcau, M. Barahona, A. M. Botia, M. S. Cabello, C. Rodrigo, J. Roca, J. Alvarez, P. Matilla, A. M. Escofet, C. Vila, J. Sitges, J. Cuquet. L. de la Fuente, G. Prats, J. A. Vázquez.
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Cardeñosa, N., Domínguez, A., Martínez, A. et al. Meningococcal Disease in Catalonia 1 Year after Mass Vaccination Campaign with Meningococcal Group C Polysaccharide Vaccine. Infection 31, 392–397 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-003-3121-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-003-3121-6