Control of an epidemic peak of meningococcal disease by N. meningitidis serogroup B

Authors

  • María Catalina Pírez Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Pediatría, Prof. Agregada
  • Teresa Picón Sociedad Uruguaya de Pediatría, Comité Infectología, Pediatra
  • Jeannette Galazka Sociedad Uruguaya de Pediatría, Comité Infectología, Pediatra
  • Ivonne Rubio Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Pediatría, Profesora
  • Alicia Montano Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Pediatría, Profesora
  • Ana María Ferrari Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Pediatría, Profesora

Keywords:

MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS, MENINGOCOCCAL VACCINES

Abstract

Background. In July 2001, some events indicated a possible variation in the course of invasive meningococcal disease (EIM) by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B showing a transformation from an endemic to an epidemic form of the disease. The epidemic peak occurred from May to July 2001in Santa Lucía with an incident rate of 30 cases/100 000 inhabitants, led to a discussion within the public health authorities and concluded with a vaccination for children over 4 years and youths under 19 years all over the country.
BC antimeningococcal vaccine from Finlay (Cuba) was chosen to prevent the disease.
Objective. To analize EIM cases occurred after vaccination with BC antimeningococcal vaccine in Canelones (443 053 inhabitants) from April 2002 to March 2003 and Montevideo (1 344 839 inhabitants) from August 2002 to July 2003.
Methods. EIM cases reported to the Epidemiologic Department of the Public Health Minister (Area de Vigilancia Epidemiológica-MSP) after vaccination were analyzed and compared to cases occurred the prior two years. Variables analyzed were age, clinical presentation, BC antimeningococcal vaccine, clinical evolution, serotype and subserotype N. meningitidis serogroup B.
Results. a) Canelones: From April 1, 2000 to March 31, 2001 the incidence was 1.5 cases/100 000 inhabitants, from April 1, 2001 to March 31, 2002 the incidence doubled to 3.4/100 000, but decreased to 1.8/100 000 after vaccination. Mortality was 27% during epidemic peak and 12.5% after vaccination. In the 4-19 years old group incidence was 7.4/100 000 (from April 1, 2001 to March 31, 2002) with 3 deaths (all associated with strain B: 4.7: P11.19,15; there were no cases after vaccination.
b) Montevideo: From August 1, 2000 to July 31, 2001 the incidence was 1.5 cases/100 000 inhabitants, from August 1, 2001 to July , 2002 the incidence increased to 2.3/100 000, and decreased to 1.8/100 000 after vaccination. Strain B was predominant in the first and second periods. Mortality was 5% from August 1, 2000 to July 31, 2001, 10% from August 1, 2001 to July 31, 2002 and 4.5% after vaccination. Out of the 24 cases occurred after vaccination, 6 presented in immunized patients. There were 15 cases in the 4-19 years old group from August 1, 2001 to July 31, 2002 and 11 after vaccination.
Discussion. The incidence of the disease was similar both for the period after the vaccination campaign and the period previous to 2001. There were no cases in the 4-19 years old group (objective population) in Canelones. There were no changes for the same age group in Montevideo. Vaccination-related deaths decreased.
Conclusion. BC antimeningococcal vaccine controlled the epidemic peak of 2001. Incidence and fatal deaths were reduced after vaccination.

References

1) Diermayer M, Hedberg K, Hoesly F, Fischer M, Perkins B, Reeves M, Fleming D. Epidemic serogroup B meningococcal disease in Oregon: the evolving epidemiology of the ET-5 strain. JAMA 1999; 281(16): 1493- 7.
2) Cartwright KA, Stuart JM, Noah ND. An outbreak of meningococcal disease in Goucestershire. Lancet 1986; 2(8506): 558-61.
3) Peltola H. Prophylaxis of bacterial meningitis. Infect Dis Clin North Am 1999; 13 (3): 685-710.
4) Wenger JD. Serogroup B meningococcal disease: new outbreaks, new strategies. JAMA 1999; 281(16): 1541-3.
5) Baker MG, Martin DR, Kieft CE, Lennon D. A 10-year serogroup B meningococcal disease epidemic in New Zealand: descriptive epidemiology, 1991-2000. J Paediatr Child Health 2001; 37(5): S13-9.
6) Pírez MC, Picon T, Galazka J, Quian j, Gutiérrez S, Ferrari AM, et al. Enfermedad invasiva meningocócica en Uruguay. Informe epidemiológico y recomendaciones, mayo 2002. Rev Med Urug 2002; 18(1): 83-8.
7) Sierra GV, Campa HC, Varcacel NM, Garcia IL, Izquierdo PL, Sotolongo PF, et al. Vaccine against group B Neisseria meinigitidis: protection trial and mass vaccination results in Cuba. NIPH Ann 1991; 14(2): 195-207.
8) Rico Cordeiro O, Pereira Colls C, Fernández AA. Eficacia poslicenciamiento de Va-MENGOC-BC en menores de 6 años en Holguin, Cuba. Primer año de observación. Rev Cubana Med Trop 1995, 47(1): 59-64.
9) de Moraes JC, Perkins BA, Camargo MC, , Hidalgo NT, Barbosa HA, Sacchi CT, et al. Protective efficacy of a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Lancet 1992; 340(8827): 1074-8.
10) Noronha CP, Struchiner CJ, Halloran ME. Assessment of the direct effectiveness of BC meningococcal vaccine in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: a case control study. Int J Epidemiol 1995; 24(5): 1050-7.
11) Costa EA, Martins H, Klein CH. Avaliaçao da proteçao conferida pela vacina antimeningocica BC no Estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil, 1990-1992. Rev Saude Pública 1996; 30(5): 460-70.
12) de Kleijn ED, de Groot R, Lafeber AB, Labadie J, van Limpt CJ, Visser J, et al. Prevention of meningococcal serogroup B infections in children: a protein-based vaccine induces immunologic memory. J Infect Dis 2001; 184(1): 98-102.
13) Bjune g, Hojby EA, Gronnesby JK, Arnesen O, Fredriksen JH, Halstensen A, et al. Effect of outer membrane vesicle vaccine against group B meningococcal disease in Norway. Lancet 1991; 338(8775): 1093-6.
14) Asociación Americana de Infectología. Asociación Española de Pediatría. Sociedad Latinomericana de Pediatría. Vacunación contra el meningococo In: Manual de Vacunas en Pediatría. 2ed. Madrid: Latinoamericana, 2000: 165-78.
15) Debbag R, Rittiman R, Stamboulian D. Evaluación de las reacciones adversas asociadas con la vacuna antimeningocócica BC: informe preliminar sobre 8.117 vacunados. Rev Hosp Niños Bs As 1994; 36:158-9.
16) Morley SL, Cole MJ, Ison CA, Camaraza MA, Solotongo F, Anwar N, et al. Immunogenicity of a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine against multiple Neisseria meningitidis strains in infants. Pediatr Infect Dis J, 2001; 20(11): 1054-61.
17) Tappero JW, Lagos R, Ballesteros AM¸ Plikaytis B, Williams D, Dykes J, et al. Immunogenicity of 2 serogroup B outer-membrane protein meningococcal vaccines: a randomized controlled trial in Chile. JAMA 1999; 281(16): 1520-7.
18) Perkins BA, Jonsdottir K, Briem H, Griffiths E, Plikaytis BD, Hoiby EA, et al. Immunogenicity of two efficacious outer membrane protein-based serogoup B meningococcal vaccines among adults in Iceland. J Infect Dis 1998; 177(3): 683-91.
19) Pollard AJ, Galassini R, Rouppe van der Voort EM, Hibberd M, Booy R, Langford P, et al. Cellular Immune Responses to Neisseria meningitidis in children. Infect Immun 1999; 67(5): 2452-63.
20) Peter G. Update on meningococcal vaccine. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2000; 20(3):311-2.
21) Lepow ML, Perkins BA, Hughes PA, Poolman JT. Meningococcal Vaccines. In: Plotkin S, Orenstein W, eds. Vaccines. 3 ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1999:711-27.

Published

2004-08-31

How to Cite

1.
Pírez MC, Picón T, Galazka J, Rubio I, Montano A, Ferrari AM. Control of an epidemic peak of meningococcal disease by N. meningitidis serogroup B. Rev. Méd. Urug. [Internet]. 2004 Aug. 31 [cited 2024 Sep. 7];20(2):92-101. Available from: https://revista.rmu.org.uy/index.php/rmu/article/view/913

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 3 > >>