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Epidemiology and Infection Mar 2020Teenagers have a higher risk of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) than the general population. This cross-sectional study aimed to characterise strains of Neisseria...
Teenagers have a higher risk of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) than the general population. This cross-sectional study aimed to characterise strains of Neisseria meningitidis circulating among Norwegian teenagers and to assess risk factors for meningococcal carriage. Oropharyngeal swabs were collected from secondary-school students in southeastern Norway in 2018-2019. Meningococcal isolates were characterised using whole genome sequencing. Risk factors for meningococcal carriage were assessed from questionnaire data. Samples were obtained from 2296 12-24-year-olds (majority 13-19-year-olds). N. meningitidis was identified in 167 (7.3%) individuals. The highest carriage rate was found among 18-year-olds (16.4%). Most carriage isolates were capsule null (40.1%) or genogroup Y (33.5%). Clonal complexes cc23 (35.9%) and cc198 (32.3%) dominated and 38.9% of carriage strains were similar to invasive strains currently causing IMD in Norway. Use of Swedish snus (smokeless tobacco) (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.07-2.27), kissing >two persons/month (OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.49-5.10) and partying >10 times/3months (OR 3.50, 95% CI 1.45-8.48) were associated with carriage, while age, cigarette smoking, sharing of drinking bottles and meningococcal vaccination were not. The high meningococcal carriage rate among 18-year-olds is probably due to risk-related behaviour. Use of Swedish snus is possibly a new risk factor for meningococcal carriage. Almost 40% of circulating carriage strains have invasive potential.
Topics: Adolescent; Carrier State; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Meningococcal Infections; Neisseria meningitidis; Norway; Phylogeny; Risk Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 32228726
DOI: 10.1017/S0950268820000734 -
The Lancet. Infectious Diseases Aug 2019Meningococcal disease was first clinically characterised by Gaspard Vieusseux in 1805, and its causative agent was identified by Anton Weichselbaum in 1887, who named it... (Review)
Review
Meningococcal disease was first clinically characterised by Gaspard Vieusseux in 1805, and its causative agent was identified by Anton Weichselbaum in 1887, who named it Diplococcus intracellularis menigitidis. From the beginning, the disease was dreaded because of its epidemic nature, predilection for previously healthy children and adolescents, and high mortality. In the last decade of the 19th century, the concept of serum therapy for toxin-related bacterial diseases was identified. This concept was applied to meningococcal disease therapy, in an independent way, by Wilhelm Kolle, August von Wasserman, and Georg Jochmann in Germany, and Simon Flexner in the USA, resulting in the first successful approach for the treatment of meningococcal disease. During the first three decades of the 20th century, serum therapy was the standard treatment for meningococcal disease. With the advent of sulphamides first and then antibiotics, serum therapy was abandoned. The great challenges that infectious diseases medicine is facing and the awaiting menaces in the future in terms of increasing antibiotic resistance, emergence of new pathogens, and re-emergence of old ones without effective therapy, make passive immunotherapy a promising tool. Acknowledging the achievements of our predecessors might teach us some lessons to bring light to our future.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Epidemics; Germany; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; Humans; Immunization, Passive; Infectious Disease Medicine; Meningococcal Infections; Meningococcal Vaccines; Neisseria meningitidis; p-Aminoazobenzene
PubMed: 31053493
DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(19)30040-4 -
Polish Journal of Microbiology 2015Neisseria meningitidis is a commensal of human nasopharynx and humans are the only known reservoir and host of this bacterium. It is also known as a dangerous and... (Review)
Review
Neisseria meningitidis is a commensal of human nasopharynx and humans are the only known reservoir and host of this bacterium. It is also known as a dangerous and devastating pathogen, and infection with N. meningitidis may lead to rapidly progressing septicemia or meningitis. These severe infections, called invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), are one of the major public health threats worldwide. IMD may occur sporadically, but also in outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics. Most of the IMD cases in the world are caused by isolates of genetically related groups, clonal complexes (CC), including those with special epidemiological significance called hyperinvasive clonal complexes. It is still unknown why some of them may persist for decades, whereas other are quickly replaced and disappear. As a consequence, the epidemiological situation of IMD is variable worldwide and greatly depends on the emergence and widespread of clones belonging to hyperinvasive clonal complexes. Their occurrence has serious implications for health policy, requiring often mass immunization campaigns. Paradoxically, alarming situations caused by hyperinvasive CCs stimulated the development and introduction of new vaccines against meningococci. Despite the unquestionable success of these vaccines, isolates of hyperinvasive clones constitute a permanent public health threat, because they are constantly circulating and able to modify their antigenic profiles to escape the host immune response. Therefore, continuous monitoring of meningococcal isolates including thorough molecular typing is indispensable and fundamental for taking appropriate preventive measures.
Topics: Disease Outbreaks; Humans; Meningococcal Infections; Meningococcal Vaccines; Neisseria meningitidis
PubMed: 26999951
DOI: 10.5604/17331331.1185912 -
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics Dec 2024Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is an acute life-threatening infection caused by the gram-negative bacterium, . Globally, there are approximately half a million...
Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is an acute life-threatening infection caused by the gram-negative bacterium, . 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.
Topics: Child; Infant; Adolescent; Young Adult; Humans; Meningococcal Infections; Neisseria meningitidis; Europe; Czech Republic; Vaccination; Serogroup; Meningococcal Vaccines
PubMed: 38173392
DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2301186 -
Epidemiology and Infection Mar 2013Meningococcal disease is mostly endemic in Latin America, with periodic occurrences of outbreaks and epidemics over the last few decades. This literature review... (Review)
Review
Meningococcal disease is mostly endemic in Latin America, with periodic occurrences of outbreaks and epidemics over the last few decades. This literature review summarizes the available epidemiological data for this region between 1945 and 2010. Incidence rates and serogroup distribution differ from country to country and over time. Serogroups A, B, and C have all been major causes of meningococcal disease since the 1970s. In the last decade serogroups W135 and Y may now be emerging in certain countries, with serogroup A virtually disappearing. Although progress has been made in improving and coordinating the surveillance of invasive disease, the uniformity and quality of reported data reflect the fact that the current surveillance systems focus on passive rather than active reporting, hence the reliability of data may vary between countries. Consideration of vaccination policies to control meningococcal disease can only be made with a sufficient understanding of the changing epidemiology in the region.
Topics: Carrier State; Disease Notification; Health Policy; Humans; Incidence; Latin America; Meningococcal Infections; Neisseria meningitidis; Vaccination
PubMed: 22877581
DOI: 10.1017/S0950268812001689 -
The Western Journal of Medicine Jan 1989In Los Angeles, a substantial increase in the number of infections due to Neisseria meningitidis has been noted. More alarming has been an associated mortality rate of...
In Los Angeles, a substantial increase in the number of infections due to Neisseria meningitidis has been noted. More alarming has been an associated mortality rate of 21%. The prompt recognition of meningococcal disease based on a high index of suspicion and the early institution of effective antibiotic treatment are essential for preventing complications and reducing mortality.
Topics: Child; Humans; Los Angeles; Meningitis, Meningococcal; Meningococcal Infections
PubMed: 2735025
DOI: No ID Found -
PloS One 2019Neisseria meningitidis is the primary cause of bacterial meningitis in many parts of the world, with considerable mortality rates among neonates and adults. In Saudi...
Neisseria meningitidis is the primary cause of bacterial meningitis in many parts of the world, with considerable mortality rates among neonates and adults. In Saudi Arabia, serious outbreaks of N. meningitidis affecting several hundreds of pilgrims attending Hajj in Makkah were recorded in the 2000-2001 season. Evidence shows increased rates of bacterial resistance to penicillin and other antimicrobial agents that are used in the treatment of the meningococcal disease. The host's immune system becomes unable to recognize the polysialic acid capsule of the resistant N. meningitidis that mimics the mammalian cell surface. The biosynthetic pathways of sialic acid (i.e., N-acetylneuraminic acid [NANA]) in bacteria, however, are somewhat different from those in mammals. The largest obstacle facing previously identified inhibitors of NANA synthase (NANAS) in N. meningitidis is that these inhibitors feature undesired chemical and pharmacological characteristics. To better comprehend the binding mechanism underlying these inhibitors at the catalytic site of NANAS, we performed molecular modeling studies to uncover essential structural aspects for the ultimate recognition at the catalytic site required for optimal inhibitory activity. Applying two virtual screening candidate molecules and one designed molecule showed promising structural scaffolds. Here, we report ethyl 3-benzoyl-2,7-dimethyl indolizine-1-carboxylate (INLZ) as a novel molecule with high energetic fitness scores at the catalytic site of the NmeNANAS enzyme. INLZ represents a promising scaffold for NmeNANAS enzyme inhibitors, with new prospects for further structural development and activity optimization.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Humans; Meningococcal Infections; Models, Molecular; Molecular Conformation; Molecular Structure; N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; Neisseria meningitidis; Oxo-Acid-Lyases; Structure-Activity Relationship
PubMed: 31618227
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223413 -
BMC Research Notes Aug 2020Few data are available on the association between SARS-CoV-2 and secondary bacterial infections. Such an association was described for flu and invasive meningococcal...
OBJECTIVE
Few data are available on the association between SARS-CoV-2 and secondary bacterial infections. Such an association was described for flu and invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). We aimed exploring such a correlation between COVID-19 and IMD as well as the impact of the lockdown on IMD.
RESULTS
We compared IMD cases received at the French National Reference Centre for meningococci and Haemophilus influenzae that are sent as part of the mandatory reporting of IMD. We compared these data during the period 01 January-15 May 2020 to those from the same period in 2018 and 2019. IMD cases that were associated with respiratory presentations significantly increased in 2020 compared to 2018 (P = 0.029) and 2019 (P = 0.002), involved elderly and were due to unusual isolates. However, IMD cases due to hyperinvasive isolates decreased during the lockdown. Enhancing IMD surveillance and anti-meningococcal vaccination in elderly should be addressed.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; COVID-19; Child; Child, Preschool; Coronavirus Infections; Female; France; Humans; Male; Meningococcal Infections; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Quarantine; Young Adult
PubMed: 32854773
DOI: 10.1186/s13104-020-05241-9 -
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics Aug 2012Neisseria meningitidis infection results in life-threatening illnesses, including bacteremia, sepsis and meningitis. Early diagnosis and treatment are a challenge due to... (Review)
Review
Neisseria meningitidis infection results in life-threatening illnesses, including bacteremia, sepsis and meningitis. Early diagnosis and treatment are a challenge due to rapid disease progression, resulting in high mortality and morbidity in survivors. Disease can occur in healthy individuals, however, risk of infection is higher in patients with certain risk factors. N meningitidis carriage and case-fatality rates are high in adolescents and young adults. The absolute incidence of meningococcal disease has decreased partially due to increasing meningococcal vaccination rates. Maintaining protective levels of circulating antibodies by vaccination is necessary for clinical protection against disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices guidelines recommend vaccination for all individuals aged 11 through 12 years, followed by a booster dose at age 16 years for maintenance of protective antibody levels throughout the high-risk years. Despite these guidelines, many adolescents remain unvaccinated and susceptible to infection and disease.
Topics: Antibodies, Bacterial; Humans; Immunization Schedule; Incidence; Meningococcal Infections; Meningococcal Vaccines; Neisseria meningitidis
PubMed: 22854672
DOI: 10.4161/hv.20473 -
Expert Review of Vaccines 2023Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a leading cause of life-threatening bacterial meningitis and septicemia. Evidence points to a knowledge gap among parents,... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a leading cause of life-threatening bacterial meningitis and septicemia. Evidence points to a knowledge gap among parents, teenagers, and healthcare providers (HCPs) regarding IMD and available vaccines, including those against the highly prevalent serogroup B.
AREAS COVERED
An online survey was conducted between March 27 and 12 April 2019, to gather insights into the knowledge that parents/guardians have about IMD vaccines. The children were aged 2 months to 10 years in Australia, Brazil, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Spain, 5-20 years in the UK, and 16-23 years in the USA. The findings were discussed in the context of the available literature and solutions were proposed to minimize the knowledge gap and the barriers to vaccination against IMD.
EXPERT OPINION
The survey demonstrated that parents have a good understanding of IMD but a limited understanding of the different serogroups and vaccines. The available literature highlighted multiple barriers to IMD vaccine uptake; these may be reduced through education of HCPs, clear recommendations to parents by HCPs, the use of technology, and disease-awareness initiatives that engage parents through physical and digital channels. Further studies are warranted to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on IMD vaccination.
Topics: Child; Adolescent; Humans; Pandemics; Meningococcal Vaccines; COVID-19; Meningococcal Infections; Vaccination; Serogroup
PubMed: 37144283
DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2023.2211163