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Tzanakaki G, Cabrnochová H, Delić S, Draganescu A, Hilfanova A, Onozó B, Pokorn M, Skoczyńska A, Tešović G. Invasive meningococcal disease in South-Eastern European countries: Do we need to revise vaccination strategies? Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2301186. [PMID: 38173392 PMCID: PMC10773623 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2301186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is an acute life-threatening infection caused by the gram-negative bacterium, Neisseria meningitidis. Globally, there are approximately half a million cases of IMD each year, with incidence varying across geographical regions. Vaccination has proven to be successful against IMD, as part of controlling outbreaks, and when incorporated into national immunization programs. The South-Eastern Europe Meningococcal Advocacy Group (including representatives from Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Ukraine) was formed in order to discuss the potential challenges of IMD faced in the region. The incidence of IMD across Europe has been relatively low over the past decade; of the countries that came together for the South-Eastern Meningococcal Advocacy Group, the notification rates were lower than the European average for some country. The age distribution of IMD cases was highest in infants and children, and most countries also had a further peak in adolescents and young adults. Across the nine included countries between 2010 and 2020, the largest contributors to IMD were serogroups B and C; however, each individual country had distinct patterns for serogroup distribution. Along with the variations in epidemiology of IMD between the included countries, vaccination policies also differ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina Tzanakaki
- Public Health Microbiology, National Meningitis Reference Laboratory, Laboratory for Surveillance of Infectious Diseases, Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
| | - Hana Cabrnochová
- Center of children vaccination in Thomayer University Hospital, and Department of Pediatrics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Anca Draganescu
- National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Prof.Dr.Matei Bals”, Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Anna Hilfanova
- Department of Pediatrics, Immunology, Infectious and Rare Diseases, European Medical School of the International European University, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Beáta Onozó
- Pediatric Department of County Hospital, Miskolc, Hungary
| | - Marko Pokorn
- Division of Paediatrics, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anna Skoczyńska
- National Reference Centre for Bacterial Meningitis, Department of Epidemiology and Clinical Microbiology, National Medicines Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Goran Tešović
- University of Zagreb, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Department, University Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Zagreb, Croatia
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Zografaki I, Detsis M, Del Amo M, Iantomasi R, Maia A, Montuori EA, Mendez C. Invasive Meningococcal Disease epidemiology and vaccination strategies in four Southern European countries: a review of the available data. Expert Rev Vaccines 2023. [PMID: 37316234 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2023.2225596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a major health concern which can be prevented through vaccination. Conjugate vaccines against serogroups A, C, W and Y and two protein-based vaccines against serogroup B are currently available in the European Union. AREAS COVERED We present epidemiologic data for Italy, Portugal, Greece and Spain using publicly available reports from national reference laboratories and national or regional immunization programs (1999-2019), aiming to confirm risk groups, and describe time trends in overall incidence and serogroup distribution, as well as impact of immunization. Analysis of circulating MenB isolates in terms of the surface factor H binding protein (fHbp) using PubMLST is discussed as fHbp represents an important MenB vaccine antigen. Predictions of potential reactivity of the two available MenB vaccines (MenB-fHbp and 4CMenB) with circulating MenB isolates are also provided as assessed using the recently developed MenDeVAR tool. EXPERT OPINION Understanding dynamics of IMD and continued genomic surveillance are essential for evaluating vaccine effectiveness, but also prompting proactive immunization programs to prevent future outbreaks. Importantly, the successful design of further effective meningococcal vaccines to fight IMD relies on considering the unpredictable epidemiology of the disease and combining lessons learnt from capsule polysaccharide vaccines and protein-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ana Maia
- Vaccines Department, Pfizer Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal
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Abstract
Until 1989, Romania was one of the countries of the communist bloc in Europe and its healthcare system was characterized by centralized planning and severe underfunding, with low performance and low quality healthcare. Since 1998, Romania replaced the Semashko model with a social health insurance system, highly centralized under the management of the Ministry of Health as the central administrative authority. After joining the European Union, quality of life increased in our country and there were efforts to improve the quality of healthcare, including pediatric and neonatal care. Still, Romania has the lowest share of health expenditure of gross domestic product among the European Union Member States and the lowest level of expenditure per inhabitant. The Romanian health system is organized on three levels of assistance: primary, secondary and tertiary assistance. This overview presents the organization and the characteristics of pediatric and neonatal healthcare in Romania at all levels, the infrastructure and the human resources, the educational system from medical school to pediatric residency, professional organizations, national health programs, and the child health status in Romania. Infant mortality, the most descriptive single indicator of the quality of a health system, decreased constantly for the last 30 years in Romania, but is still the highest in the European Union. Even though there were great improvements in the healthcare for children, more efforts should be made to assure a better quality of care for the future of our nation, both on the human resources (in great danger due to the brain-drain of medical professionals during the last 12 years), and on the infrastructure plan.
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Storz C, Schutz C, Tluway A, Matuja W, Schmutzhard E, Winkler AS. Clinical findings and management of patients with meningitis with an emphasis on Haemophilus influenzae meningitis in rural Tanzania. J Neurol Sci 2016; 366:52-58. [PMID: 27288776 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2016.04.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The spectrum of meningitis pathogens differs depending on the age of patients and the geographic region, amongst other. Although meningitis vaccination programs have led to the reduction of incidence rates, an imbalance between low- and high-income countries still exists. METHODS In a hospital-based study in rural northern Tanzania, we consecutively recruited patients with confirmed meningitis and described their clinical and laboratory characteristics. RESULTS A total of 136 patients with meningitis were included. Fever (85%), meningism (63%) and impairment of consciousness (33%) were the most frequent clinical symptoms/signs. Nearly 10% of all patients tested were positive for malaria. The majority of the patients with bacterial meningitis (39%), especially those under 5years of age, were confirmed to be infected with Haemophilus influenzae (26%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (19%) and Neisseria meningitidis (15%). Haemophilus influenzae represented the dominant causative organism in children under 2years of age. CONCLUSION Our study emphasizes the importance of recognizing warning symptoms like fever, meningism and impairment of consciousness, implementing laboratory tests to determine responsible pathogens and evaluating differential diagnoses in patients with meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa. It also shows that Haemophilus influenza meningitis is still an important cause for meningitis in the young, most probabaly due to lack of appropriate vaccination coverage.
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MESH Headings
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Disease Management
- Female
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Humans
- Infant
- Infant, Newborn
- Malaria/epidemiology
- Malaria/physiopathology
- Malaria/therapy
- Male
- Meningitis, Haemophilus/epidemiology
- Meningitis, Haemophilus/physiopathology
- Meningitis, Haemophilus/therapy
- Meningitis, Meningococcal/epidemiology
- Meningitis, Meningococcal/physiopathology
- Meningitis, Meningococcal/therapy
- Meningitis, Pneumococcal/epidemiology
- Meningitis, Pneumococcal/physiopathology
- Meningitis, Pneumococcal/therapy
- Middle Aged
- Rural Population
- Tanzania/epidemiology
- Young Adult
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinna Storz
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
| | - Cornelia Schutz
- Department of Anesthesia, Klinik Kirchheim, Eugenstrasse 3, 73230 Kirchheim unter Teck, Germany.
| | | | - William Matuja
- Department of Neurology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
| | - Erich Schmutzhard
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Andrea S Winkler
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Mbulu, Manyara, Tanzania; Department of Community Medicine, Centre for Global Health, University of Oslo, Postboks 1130, Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway.
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Kriz P, Wieffer H, Holl K, Rosenlund M, Budhia S, Vyse A. Changing epidemiology of meningococcal disease in Europe from the mid-20th to the early 21st Century. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 10:1477-86. [DOI: 10.1586/erv.11.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Kim SA, Kim DW, Dong BQ, Kim JS, Anh DD, Kilgore PE. An expanded age range for meningococcal meningitis: molecular diagnostic evidence from population-based surveillance in Asia. BMC Infect Dis 2012; 12:310. [PMID: 23164061 PMCID: PMC3519641 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-12-310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2012] [Accepted: 11/05/2012] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To understand epidemiologic patterns of meningococcal disease in Asia, we performed a retrospective molecular analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens collected in prospective surveillance among children aged < 5 years of age in China, South Korea, and Vietnam. Methods A total of 295 isolates and 2,302 CSFs were tested by a meningococcal species- and serogroup-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting the Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) ctrA gene. Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) was performed in Nm gene amplification analysis and incidence rates for meningococcal meningitis were estimated. Results Among 295 isolates tested, 10 specimens from Vietnam were confirmed as serogroup B and all were Sequence Type (ST) 1576 by MLST. Among the 2,032 CSF specimen tested, 284 (14%) were confirmed by PCR (ctrA gene), including 67 (23.6%) from China, 92 (32.4%) from Korea, and 125 (44.0%) from Vietnam. Neonates and infants aged < 6 months of age accounted for more than 50% of Nm-PCR positive CSF. Two CSF specimens from Vietnam were identified as serogroup B using MLST. In addition, 44 specimens underwent sequencing to confirm meningococcal serogroup; of these, 21 (48%) were serogroup C, 12 (27%) were serogroup X, 9 (20%) were serogroup Y and 2 (5%) were serogroup B. The incidence rates of meningococcal meningitis among children < 5 years of age was highest in Vietnam (7.4/100,000 [95% CI, 3.6—15.3] followed by Korea (6.8/100,000 [95% CI, 3.5-13.5] and China (2.1/100,000) [95% CI, 0.7-6.2]). Conclusions These results suggest that there is a previously undetected, yet substantial burden of meningococcal meningitis among infants and young children. Standardized, sensitive and specific molecular diagnostic assays with Nm serogrouping capacity are needed throughout Asia to understand the true burden of N. meningitidis disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soon Ae Kim
- Translational Research Division, International Vaccine Institute, SNU Research Park, San 4-8 Nakseongdae-Dong, Kwanak Gu, Seoul 151-919, South Korea.
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Prymula R, Chlibek R, Ivaskeviciene I, Mangarov A, Mészner Z, Perenovska P, Richter D, Salman N, Šimurka P, Tamm E, Tešović G, Urbancikova I, Usonis V. Paediatric pneumococcal disease in Central Europe. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2011; 30:1311-20. [DOI: 10.1007/s10096-011-1241-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2010] [Accepted: 03/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Theodoridou MN, Vasilopoulou VA, Atsali EE, Pangalis AM, Mostrou GJ, Syriopoulou VP, Hadjichristodoulou CS. Meningitis registry of hospitalized cases in children: epidemiological patterns of acute bacterial meningitis throughout a 32-year period. BMC Infect Dis 2007; 7:101. [PMID: 17760993 PMCID: PMC2031898 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-7-101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2007] [Accepted: 08/30/2007] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bacterial meningitis remains a source of substantial morbidity and mortality in childhood. During the last decades gradual changes have been observed in the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis, related to the introduction of new polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines. The study presents an overview of the epidemiological patterns of acute bacterial meningitis in a tertiary children 's hospital during a 32-year period, using information from a disease registry. Moreover, it discusses the contribution of communicable disease registries in the study of acute infectious diseases. Methods In the early 1970s a Meningitis Registry (MR) was created for patients admitted with meningitis in Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital in Athens. The MR includes demographic, clinical and laboratory data as well as treatment, complications and outcome of the patients. In 2000 a database was created and the collected data were entered, analyzed and presented in three chronological periods: A (1974–1984), B (1985–1994) and C (1995–2005). Results Of the 2,477 cases of bacterial meningitis registered in total, 1,146 cases (46.3%) were classified as "probable" and 1,331 (53.7%) as "confirmed" bacterial meningitis. The estimated mean annual Incidence Rate (IR) was 16.9/100,000 for bacterial meningitis, 8.9/100,000 for Neisseria meningitidis, 1.3/100,000 for Streptococcus pneumoniae, 2.5/100,000 for Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) before vaccination and 0.4/100,000 for Hib after vaccination. Neisseria meningitis constituted the leading cause of childhood bacterial meningitis for all periods and in all age groups. Hib was the second most common cause of bacterial meningitis before the introduction of Hib conjugate vaccine, in periods A and B. The incidence of bacterial meningitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae was stable. The long-term epidemiological pattern of Neisseria meningitidis appears in cycles of approximately 10 years, confirmed by a significant rise of IR in period C. The Case Fatality Rate (CFR) from all causes was 3.8%, while higher CFR were estimated for Streptococcus pneumoniae (7.5%, RR=2.1, 95% CI 1.2–3.7) and Neisseria meningitidis (4.8%, RR=1.7, 95% CI 1.1–2.5) compared to other pathogens. Moreover, overall CFR varied significantly among the three time periods (p = 0.0015), and was estimated to be higher in period C. Conclusion By using the MR we were able to delineate long-term changes in the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis. Thus the MR proved to be a useful tool in the study and the prevention of communicable diseases in correlation with prevention strategies, such as vaccinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria N Theodoridou
- First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, University of Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Vasiliki A Vasilopoulou
- First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, University of Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Erato E Atsali
- First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, University of Athens 11527, Greece
| | | | - Glyceria J Mostrou
- First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, University of Athens 11527, Greece
| | - Vassiliki P Syriopoulou
- First Department of Pediatrics, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, University of Athens 11527, Greece
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Tsolia MN, Theodoridou M, Tzanakaki G, Vlachou V, Mostrou G, Stripeli F, Kalabalikis P, Pangalis A, Kafetzis D, Kremastinou J, Konstantopoulos A. Invasive meningococcal disease in children in Greece: comparison of serogroup A disease with disease caused by other serogroups. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2006; 25:449-56. [PMID: 16773393 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-006-0155-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Although invasive meningococcal disease caused by serogroup A is not prevalent in developed countries, a considerable number of cases were recently recorded in Greece. In this study, serogroup A meningococcal disease was compared prospectively with meningococcal disease caused by other serogroups, using similar settings of testing and management during a 5-year period between 1999 and 2003. The Neisseria meningitidis serogroup was determined in 262 cases. Serogroup B predominated, accounting for 158 (60%) of the cases. Serogroup A was second most frequent (19%), followed by serogroups W135 (11%), C (8%), and Y (2%). No cases due to serogroup C were recorded during the last year of the study. Patients with serogroup A disease were older and had a milder course compared to patients infected with serogroups B or C. Toxic appearance, purpura, thrombocytopenia, abnormal coagulation tests, and the need for admission to the intensive care unit, fluid resuscitation, inotropic drugs, and mechanical ventilation were less common. Although morbidity and mortality were lower in these patients, the differences were not significant. Serogroup B is predominant in our area, and the introduction of an effective vaccine against it is a priority. Serogroup A has emerged as the second most common serogroup, but the illness associated with it is milder.
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Affiliation(s)
- M N Tsolia
- Second Dept of Pediatrics P. and A. Kyriakou Children's Hospital, University of Athens School of Medicine, Thivon and Levadias St., 115 27, Athens, Greece.
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Platonov AE, Griffiths UK, Voeykova MV, Platonova OV, Shakhanina IL, Chistyakova GG, Robertson SE. Economic evaluation of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination in Moscow, Russian Federation. Vaccine 2006; 24:2367-76. [PMID: 16413949 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2005.11.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2005] [Revised: 11/20/2005] [Accepted: 11/24/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate the cost-effectiveness of providing Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine to children in Moscow in routine immunization services. METHODS The incidence of Hib meningitis among children aged <5 years in Moscow was obtained from a prospective surveillance study undertaken during October 1999-September 2001, with treatment cost data collected for all cases. Sequelae in surviving children were assessed in December 2002. The costs of Hib vaccination in Moscow were estimated assuming a vaccine price of US dollar 5 per dose and the same four-dose schedule and 97% coverage as for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine. The most uncertain variables were varied in a sensitivity analysis. RESULTS The annual incidence of Hib meningitis was 5.7 per 100,000 children <5 years. The average treatment cost for an acute Hib meningitis case was US dollar 1296. For a patient with sequelae, the average additional lifetime discounted treatment cost was US dollar 15,820. The total annual cost of Hib vaccination of infants in Moscow was estimated as US dollar 1.5 million per year. In the base case analysis, the cost-effectiveness ratios amount to US dollar 77,503 per Hib meningitis case averted and US dollar 10,842 per discounted disability adjusted life year averted. The break-even vaccine price, where the annual vaccination costs equal annual treatment costs averted, is only US dollar 0.04 per dose in the base case scenario. If discounted indirect costs are included, the break-even vaccine price is US dollar 0.5 per dose. CONCLUSION In Moscow, the incidence of Hib meningitis is low and the costs of hospitalization and subsequent medical treatment are relatively inexpensive. Given these factors, Hib vaccine at US dollar 5 per dose would not be a cost-effective option in Moscow at the present time.
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Affiliation(s)
- A E Platonov
- Central Institute of Epidemiology, Novogireevskaya Street, 3a, Moscow 111123, Russian Federation.
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