Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Infect 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

WHO, Geneva, Switzerland.

Genomic surveillance of bacterial meningitis pathogens is essential for effective disease control globally, enabling identification of emerging and expanding strains and consequent public health interventions. While there has been a rise in the use of whole genome sequencing, this has been driven predominately by a subset of countries with adequate capacity and resources. Global capacity to participate in surveillance needs to be expanded, particularly in low and middle-income countries with high disease burdens. Read More

Braz J Infect Dis 2020 Jun 26. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Universidade de São Paulo, Hospital Universitário, Departamento de Pediatria, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address:

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and epidemiological profile of bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease in pediatric patients admitted to a Brazilian Secondary Public Hospital.

Methods: A descriptive observational study was conducted. Microbiologically proven bacterial meningitis or meningococcal disease diagnosed from 2008 to 2018 were included. Read More

J Infect Chemother 2020 Jun 14. Epub 2020 Jun 14.

Department of Infectious Diseases, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan. Electronic address:

Background: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine and pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV) have been widely used since 2010 in Japan. The overall incidence of bacterial meningitis decreased thereafter. Streptococcus agalactiae has become the main organism. Read More

J Glob Health 2020 Jun;10(1):010416

Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia.

Background: In 1997, The Gambia introduced three primary doses of type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine without a booster in its infant immunisation programme along with establishment of a population-based surveillance on Hib meningitis in the West Coast Region (WCR). This surveillance was stopped in 2002 with reported elimination of Hib disease. This was re-established in 2008 but stopped again in 2010. Read More

IDCases 2020 16;21:e00826. Epub 2020 May 16.

Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, FL, United States.

Bacterial meningitis is a life-threatening condition that requires quick and definitive diagnosis. Bacterial cultures from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) return with a negative result as treatment with antimicrobials are sometimes started before sampling of CSF can be obtained which makes isolating the causative bacteria challenging. The value of Broad Range 16S Ribosomal RNA Gene Polymerase Chain Reaction / Sequencing of CSF (Br-PCR) can address this problem by amplifying and identifying any bacterial DNA present in a clinical sample. Read More

Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.

Despite the implementation of effective conjugate vaccines against the three main bacterial pathogens that cause meningitis, , type b (Hib), and serogroup A, the burden of meningitis in West Africa remains high. The relative importance of other bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens in central nervous system infections is poorly characterized. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens were collected from children younger than 5 years with suspected meningitis presenting at pediatric teaching hospitals across West Africa in five countries including Senegal, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, and Niger. Read More

J Glob Antimicrob Resist 2020 May 14. Epub 2020 May 14.

College of Life Sciences, Longyan University, Longyan, Fujian, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory for the Prevention and Control of Animal Infectious Diseases and Biotechnology, Longyan, Fujian, China. Electronic address:

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the mechanisms and molecular characterization of one strain (HPS412) of Haemophilus parasuis, which exhibited high MICs of antimicrobial susceptibility.

Methods: A total of 113 Haemophilus parasuis strains isolated from pigs suffering from polyserositis, pneumonia or meningitis in China and screened them for antimicrobial susceptibility. Susceptibility testing of the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) was determined in fastidious medium consisting of tryptone soya broth (TSB) containing 5% bovine serum and 10μg/mL NAD in 96-well microtiter plates. Read More

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2020 May 6. Epub 2020 May 6.

Dipartimento di Scienze di Laboratorio e Infettivologiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

We aimed to report a 32-month laboratory experience with the eazyplex CSF direct panel assay for the rapid diagnosis of meningitis due to six most common bacterial species (Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Listeria monocytogenes, Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae). We included all cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients admitted with a clinical suspicion of meningitis/encephalitis between May 2016 and December 2018 at our hospital. In addition to the eazyplex assay, both Gram stain microscopy and culture were performed, and results were confirmed with 16S rRNA PCR/sequencing. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2020 Apr 20;20(1):291. Epub 2020 Apr 20.

MIVEGEC, UMR IRD CNRS UM, 911 avenue Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.

Background: Bacterial meningitis remains a major threat for the population of the meningitis belt. Between 2004 and 2009, in the countries of this belt, more than 200,000 people were infected with a 10% mortality rate. However, for almost 20 years, important meningitis epidemics are also reported outside this belt. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2020 Apr 11;21:e920853. Epub 2020 Apr 11.

Department of Pediatrics, New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, NY, USA.

BACKGROUND Implementation of the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine brought about a reduction in the number of cases and morbidity from type B but increase in nontypeable strain infections. CASE REPORT We had 3 cases of invasive non type Hemophilus influenzae (NTBHI) in immunocompromised children. The first was a fully vaccinated 2-year-old male with a history of pseudomonas sepsis who presented with 1 day of lethargy, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. Read More

Vet Microbiol 2020 Apr 19;243:108650. Epub 2020 Mar 19.

State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, 430070, China. Electronic address:

Haemophilus parasuis is the etiological agent of Glässer's disease which is characterized by fibrinous polyserositis, arthritis and meningitis. The pathogenesis of this bacterium remains largely unknown. Genes expressed in vivo may play an important role in the pathogenicity of H. Read More

mSphere 2020 04 1;5(2). Epub 2020 Apr 1.

Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

subsp. is the causative agent of syphilis, a human-specific sexually transmitted infection that causes a multistage disease with diverse clinical manifestations. undergoes rapid vascular dissemination to penetrate tissue, placental, and blood-brain barriers and gain access to distant tissue sites. Read More

Heliyon 2020 Mar 19;6(3):e03483. Epub 2020 Mar 19.

Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República. Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell, Uruguay.

Background: Uruguay incorporated the conjugate vaccine against b (Hib) in 1994. In 2008, the vaccine was changed from one with natural conjugated capsular polysaccharide to one with a synthetic polysaccharide component. We describe the frequency and characteristics of invasive Hib infections in children hospitalized in a Pediatric Reference Hospital (PRH) between January 1st, 2000 and December 31st, 2017. Read More

mSphere 2020 03 25;5(2). Epub 2020 Mar 25.

Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.

The etiology of bacterial meningitis in Turkey changed after the implementation of conjugated vaccines against and type b (Hib) in the Turkish National Immunization Program (NIP). Administration of Hib vaccine and PCV-7 (7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) was implemented in NIP in 2006 and 2009, respectively. In 2011, PCV-7 was replaced with PCV-13. Read More

Microb Genom 2020 Apr 26;6(4). Epub 2020 Mar 26.

Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.

causes common and sometimes severe adult and pediatric disease including chronic obstructive respiratory disease, otitis media and infections of the central nervous system. Serotype b strains, with a b-type capsule, have been the historical cause of invasive disease, and the introduction of a serotype b-specific vaccine has led to their decline. However, unencapsulated or non-b-type infections are not prevented by the vaccine and appear to be increasing in frequency. Read More

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin 2020 Mar 17. Epub 2020 Mar 17.

Laboratorio de Microbiología, Hospital Regional Ciudad del Este, Ciudad del Este, Paraguay.

Introduction: Haemophilus influenzae is a cause of mild and severe invasive infections, especially among children under 5 years old. Serotype b (Hib) was very frequent before the introduction of the vaccine, which was introduced in Paraguay in 2004.

Methods: A total of 523 isolates of H. Read More

Expert Rev Vaccines 2020 Mar 20;19(3):247-265. Epub 2020 Mar 20.

GSK Vaccines, GSK, Wavre, Belgium.

: Pneumococcal diseases (including pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis) are among the leading vaccine-preventable causes of death in under-5-year-olds. Pneumococci are also one of the main bacterial pathogens associated with acute otitis media (AOM). Infant immunization programs with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have led to stark reductions in pneumococcal disease rates. Read More

Medicina (Kaunas) 2020 Mar 10;56(3). Epub 2020 Mar 10.

Internal Medicine, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy.

Complement deficiencies are rare and often underdiagnosed primary immunodeficiencies that may be associated with invasive bacterial diseases. Serious infections with encapsulated organisms (mainly Streptococcus pneumoniae, but also Neisseria meningitides and Haemophilus influenzae type B) are frequent in patients with a deficiency of the second component of complement (C2), but no data are available on long-term follow-up. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term clinical outcome and the importance of an early diagnosis and subsequent infection prophylaxis in C2 deficiency. Read More

N Z Med J 2020 03 13;133(1511):14-20. Epub 2020 Mar 13.

Consultant ENT Surgeon, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland; Chairperson, Northern Cochlear Implant Programme, Campbell Road, Auckland.

Aim: To investigate if adult cochlear implant (CI) recipients have received the recommended immunisations as compared to current guidelines and to report instances of meningitis within this population.

Methods: Telephone interview of CI recipient's general practitioner (GP) surgeries for details regarding immunisations received. Subsequent reporting of immunisation rates of adult patients, under the care of the Northern Cochlear Implant Programme (NCIP) in New Zealand, when compared to the recommended guidelines from the Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) and rates of meningitis of CI recipients are presented. Read More

Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020 25;10:19. Epub 2020 Feb 25.

State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.

(HPS), a member of the family Pasteurellaceae, is a common bacteria in the upper respiratory tract of pigs but under certain circumstances can cause serious systemic disease (Glasser's disease) characterized by severe infection of the upper respiratory tract, fibrinous polyserositis, polyarthritis, and meningitis. cAMP receptor protein (CRP) is among the most important global regulators, playing a vital role in adapting to environmental changes during the process of bacterial infection. In order to investigate the function of the gene in the growth characteristics of serovar 5 (HPS5) and its ability to overcome adverse environmental stresses, a mutant strain (Δcrp) was constructed and verified. Read More

Pediatr Emerg Care 2020 Mar;36(3):e172-e174

From the Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN.

In this case report, we describe a unique case of Haemophilus influenzae type A meningitis in a 7-month-old previously healthy girl that presented with an isolated cranial nerve (oculomotor) palsy without other signs and symptoms classically associated with this entity such as fever, meningismus, or a generally ill appearance. Oculomotor nerve abnormalities are rare in pediatrics. Congenital oculomotor palsy is the most common cause followed by trauma, infection, inflammatory conditions, neoplasm, aneurysm or other vascular events, and ophthalmoplegic migraines, respectively. Read More

Trop Med Infect Dis 2020 Feb 20;5(1). Epub 2020 Feb 20.

Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore.

Early-onset neonatal sepsis (EOS) is a major cause of neonatal death and long-term neurodevelopmental disabilities among survivors. The common pathogens causing EOS are group B (GBS) and . () is a Gram-negative coccobacillus that can cause severe invasive disease and can be divided into either typeable or non-typeable strains. Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2020 May 10;150:218-227. Epub 2020 Feb 10.

Department of Nanotechnology, Faculty of Science and Chemistry, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran. Electronic address:

Haemophilus Influenza leads to respiratory infections such as sinusitis, acute otitis media, pneumonia and bronchitis. In addition, it causes invasive infections such as cellulite, septic arthritis, and meningitis. Therefore, quick and sensitive detection of H. Read More

Vaccine 2020 Feb 5;38(10):2350-2360. Epub 2020 Feb 5.

GSK, Wavre, Belgium. Electronic address:

Background: Nasopharyngeal carriage (NPC) of Streptococcus pneumoniae is a precondition for pneumococcal disease and a source of transmission. This trial evaluated NPC of S. pneumoniae and other pathogens post-vaccination with the pneumococcal non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected (HIV+), HIV-exposed-uninfected (HEU), and HIV-unexposed-uninfected (HUU) South African children. Read More

New Microbes New Infect 2020 Jan 10;33:100632. Epub 2019 Dec 10.

Clinical Microbiology Research Centre, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran.

There is a direct correlation between asymptomatic oropharyngeal colonization by pathogenic bacteria and the prevalence of paediatric respiratory infections. and are common cause of serious bacterial infections such as meningitis in children. his study aimed to monitor healthy children to detect asymptomatic carriers of and . Read More

Infect Genet Evol 2020 Jun 22;80:104205. Epub 2020 Jan 22.

School of Food Science and Engineering, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Green Processing of Natural Products and Product Safety, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China; Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Maryland, Baltimore 21201, USA; Overseas Expertise Introduction Center for Discipline Innovation of Food Nutrition and Human Health (111 Center), Guangzhou, China. Electronic address:

Haemophilus influenzae remains a common cause of illness in children worldwide. H. influenzae type b is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children before introduction of vaccination and is a common cause of pneumonia, epiglottis and septic arthritis. Read More

Clin Microbiol Infect 2020 Jan 9. Epub 2020 Jan 9.

Paris University, IAME, INSERM, F-75018, Paris, France; Inserm Clinical Investigation Center, 1425, Paris, France; Inserm, F-CRIN, Innovative clinical research network in vaccinology (I-REIVAC), Paris, France.

Objectives: To identify factors associated with unfavorable in-hospital outcome (death or disability) in adults with community-acquired bacterial meningitis (CABM).

Methods: In a prospective multicenter cohort study (COMBAT; February 2013-July 2015), all consecutive cases of CABM in the 69 participating centers in France were enrolled and followed up for 12 months. Factors associated with unfavorable outcome were identified by logistic regression and long-term disability analyzed. Read More

J Clin Microbiol 2020 Feb 24;58(3). Epub 2020 Feb 24.

Institut Pasteur, Invasive Bacterial Infections Unit and National Reference Centre for Meningococci and Haemophilus influenzae, Paris, France.

Meningococcal meningitis remains a life-threatening disease worldwide, with high prevalence in the sub-Saharan meningitis belt. A rapid diagnosis is crucial for implementing adapted antimicrobial treatment. We describe the performances of a new immunochromatographic test (MeningoSpeed, BioSpeedia, France) for detecting and grouping Cerebrospinal fluids (CSFs) were collected from 5 African countries and France. Read More

Med Sante Trop 2019 Nov;29(4):435-439

Université de Ouagadougou, 9268 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Introduction: Niger, located in the meningitis belt, faces recurrent epidemics of magnitudes that vary with the year. The objective of this study was to describe the trends in meningitis and identify the profile of the microbes implicated in meningitis epidemics in Niger.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive study (a secondary analysis) of meningitis data from 2008 through 2015. Read More

J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2019 Dec 19. Epub 2019 Dec 19.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

Background: Following widespread use of the Haemophilus influenzae serotype b (Hib) vaccine, H. influenzae serotype a (Hia) has emerged as an important pathogen in children in some regions. We describe the clinical features and molecular epidemiology of invasive Hia disease in children in Utah over an 11-year period. Read More

Hematol Transfus Cell Ther 2020 Apr - Jun;42(2):139-144. Epub 2019 Sep 20.

Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, BA, Brazil; Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Salvador, BA, Brazil. Electronic address:

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a common genetic blood disorder, affecting millions worldwide. According to current evidence, individuals with SCA have more than 300 times greater risk to develop bacterial meningitis (BM) than the general population. Herein we have described the characteristics of a series of BM cases in SCA patients in Salvador, Brazil, during 13 years of hospital-based surveillance. Read More

Arch Pediatr 2020 Jan 24;27(1):1-5. Epub 2019 Nov 24.

Groupe de Pathologie Infectieuse Pédiatrique de la Société Française de Pédiatrie, 06200 Paris, France; UMR-1123 ECEVE, 75019, Paris, France; Sorbonne Université Paris, 75005 Paris, France; Service de Pédiatrie Générale, Equipe Opérationnelle d'Infectiologie, CHU Armand Trousseau (AP-HP), 26, avenue du Dr Arnold Netter, 75012 Paris, France.

The objective of this study was to determine the number of cases of pediatric meningitis or purpura fulminans associated with an incorrect vaccination status from 2011 to 2013 in France. A total of 48 children with vaccine-preventable meningitis or purpura fulminans, including three deaths, had an incorrect vaccination status: 26 cases were due to Neisseria meningitidis group C (54.2%), 19 to Streptococcus pneumoniae (39. Read More

F1000Res 2019 24;8:1685. Epub 2019 Sep 24.

Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva, 1211, Switzerland.

While the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been recognised as a major public health problem, the value of vaccines to control AMR is poorly defined. This expert survey was launched with the aim of informing the 2018 Vaccine Investment Strategy through which Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance prioritises future vaccine funding. This exercise focused on both vaccines currently supported by Gavi and under consideration for future funding. Read More

Mikrobiyol Bul 2019 Oct;53(4):451-456

Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Eskişehir, Turkey.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of bacterial meningitis in children. It can progress and carries a serious risk of mortality and morbidity despite effective treatment. Cochlear implantation is a fairly successful procedure for restoring hearing in cases of sensorineural hearing loss. Read More

J Infect Dis 2019 10;220(220 Suppl 4):S182-S189

Service de Surveillance Épidémiologique Intégrée, Ministère de la Santé Publique, N'Djamena, Chad.

Background: Meningococcal serogroup A conjugate vaccine (MACV) was introduced in Chad during 2011-2012. Meningitis surveillance has been conducted nationwide since 2003, with case-based surveillance (CBS) in select districts from 2012. In 2016, the MenAfriNet consortium supported Chad to implement CBS in 4 additional districts and real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) at the national reference laboratory (NRL) to improve pathogen detection. Read More

J Infect Dis 2019 10;220(220 Suppl 4):S165-S174

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

Background: The MenAfriNet Consortium supports strategic implementation of case-based meningitis surveillance in key high-risk countries of the African meningitis belt: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger, and Togo. We describe bacterial meningitis epidemiology in these 5 countries in 2015-2017.

Methods: Case-based meningitis surveillance collects case-level demographic and clinical information and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) laboratory results. Read More

J Infect Dis 2019 10;220(220 Suppl 4):S206-S215

Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

Background: In 2010, Niger and other meningitis belt countries introduced a meningococcal serogroup A conjugate vaccine (MACV). We describe the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in Niger from 2010 to 2018.

Methods: Suspected and confirmed meningitis cases from January 1, 2010 to July 15, 2018 were obtained from national aggregate and laboratory surveillance. Read More

PLoS One 2019 24;14(10):e0223887. Epub 2019 Oct 24.

HydroSciences Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier University, Department of Microbiology, Nimes University Hospital, Nîmes, France.

Early diagnosis and treatment of meningitis and encephalitis is essential for reducing both their morbidity and mortality. The FilmArray® Meningitis/Encephalitis (FA-M/E) panel is a recently available molecular tool allowing the simultaneous detection of 14 pathogens in about one hour. We evaluated its routine use over a 13-month period at Nîmes University Hospital, France. Read More

New Microbes New Infect 2019 Nov 29;32:100594. Epub 2019 Aug 29.

Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

The molecular epidemiology of meningitis in children is unclear in Iran, and data are scarce. We aimed to characterize its clinical and paraclinical features as well as to determine the distribution of genotype/capsular types of common bacterial meningitis agents in children in Iran. All children suspected to have meningitis aged 4 days to 15 years were enrolled onto a prospective cross-sectional study from January 2015 to September 2017. Read More

BMC Pediatr 2019 10 22;19(1):370. Epub 2019 Oct 22.

Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, 65178-3-8736, Iran.

Background: No reliable and comprehensive study has been published on the incidence and epidemiological profile of meningitis in Iran from 2008 to 2014, before pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and pentavalent vaccine (DTPw-Hep B-Hib (PRP-T) vaccine (pentavac) (adsorbed)) introduction. The present study aimed to portray the epidemiological profile of meningitis in Iran from 2008 to 2014.

Methods: Data on meningitis cases aged from 1 day to 110 years were extracted from national notifiable diseases surveillance system from March 2008 to December 2014 in Iran. Read More

Vaccine 2019 12 10;37(52):7547-7559. Epub 2019 Oct 10.

China National Health Development Research Centre, Ministry of Health, Beijing, PR China; Peking University Health Science Center, No. 38 Xueyuan Rd., P.O. Box 218, Haidian District, Beijing 100191, PR China.

Background: To support vaccine decision-making we estimated from the societal perspective the potential health impact and costs averted through immunization with three vaccines - Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and rotavirus vaccine (RVV).

Methods: Based on variability in disease burden, strength of health system and economic status, we selected four states in India: Bihar, New Delhi, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. We used secondary data sources to estimate the number of under-5 deaths averted from Hib, pneumococcus and rotavirus in each state and back-calculated the total cases averted. Read More

BMC Genomics 2019 Oct 12;20(1):733. Epub 2019 Oct 12.

Bacterial Meningitis Laboratory, Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Mailstop H17-2, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.

Background: Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) can cause invasive diseases such as meningitis, pneumonia, or sepsis. Typeable Hi includes six serotypes (a through f), each expressing a unique capsular polysaccharide. The capsule, encoded by the genes within the capsule locus, is a major virulence factor of typeable Hi. Read More

Antioxidants (Basel) 2019 Oct 1;8(10). Epub 2019 Oct 1.

Health Research Institute La Fe, Avenida Fernando Abril Martorell 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain.

The immunological response in bacterial meningitis (BM) causes the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS, RNS) and activates myeloperoxidase (MPO), an inflammatory enzyme. Thus, structural oxidative and nitrosative damage to proteins and DNA occurs. We aimed to asses these events in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of pediatric BM patients. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2019 09;69(Suppl 2):S133-S139

World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for New Vaccines Surveillance, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom.

Background: Meningitis is endemic in Niger. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine and the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) were introduced in 2008 and 2014, respectively. Vaccination campaign against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A was carried out in 2010-2011. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2019 09;69(Suppl 2):S156-S163

World Health Organization Regional Reference Laboratory, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara.

Background: Bacterial meningitis is a major cause of mortality among children under 5 years of age. Senegal is part of World Health Organization-coordinated sentinel site surveillance for pediatric bacterial meningitis surveillance. We conducted this analysis to describe the epidemiology and etiology of bacterial meningitis among children less than 5 years in Senegal from 2010 and to 2016. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2019 09;69(Suppl 2):S126-S132

World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for New Vaccines Surveillance, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, Banjul.

Background: Acute bacterial meningitis remains a major cause of childhood mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. We document findings from hospital-based sentinel surveillance of bacterial meningitis among children <5 years of age in The Gambia, from 2010 to 2016.

Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected from children admitted to the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital with suspected meningitis. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2019 09;69(Suppl 2):S148-S155

World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for New Vaccines Surveillance, West Africa Partnerships and Strategy, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia.

Background: Meningitis is endemic to regions of Cameroon outside the meningitis belt including the capital city, Yaoundé. Through surveillance, we studied the etiology and molecular epidemiology of pediatric bacterial meningitis in Yaoundé from 2010 to 2016.

Methods: Lumbar puncture was performed on 5958 suspected meningitis cases; 765 specimens were further tested by culture, latex agglutination, and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2019 09;69(Suppl 2):S140-S147

World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for New Vaccines Surveillance, Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, Banjul.

Background: Pediatric bacterial meningitis (PBM) remains an important cause of disease in children in Africa. We describe findings from sentinel site bacterial meningitis surveillance in children <5 years of age in the Republic of Benin, 2011-2016.

Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected from children admitted to Parakou, Natitingou, and Tanguieta sentinel hospitals with suspected meningitis. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2019 09;69(Suppl 2):S49-S57

Division of Bacterial Diseases, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

Background: Bacterial meningitis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. We analyzed data from the World Health Organization's (WHO) Invasive Bacterial Vaccine-preventable Diseases Surveillance Network (2011-2016) to describe the epidemiology of laboratory-confirmed Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn), Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae meningitis within the WHO African Region. We also evaluated declines in vaccine-type pneumococcal meningitis following pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) introduction. Read More