[Meningococcal disease]

Abstract

Due to a high complication and case fatality rate, meningococcal diseases are important health problems both in tropical countries experiencing severe epidemics as well as in countries of moderate climate zones. Worldwide N. meningitidis of sero-groups A, B, and C are predominant and to a lesser extent serogroups W (135) and Y play a role, whereas in Europe more than 90 % of meningococcal diseases are caused by serogroups B and C of N. meningitidis. In Germany and other developed countries the majority of cases occur in very young children and adolescents. Since many years, meningococcal polysaccharide vaccines against diseases due to N.meningitidis serogroup A, C, Y and W (135) are commercially available. Unfortunately, a vaccine against diseases caused by N. meningitidis serogroup B is still under development. The recently developed and licensed conjugated meningococcal vaccines against N. meningitidis serogroup C are also protective against disease in very young children. Eight countries in Western Europe as well as Australia have already established country-wide immunization programs for children and adolescents. Within only 2 to 3 years, well managed programs have achieved far-reaching control of meningococcal C disease in UK and the Netherlands. In Germany, the Advisory Committee on Immunization (STIKO recommends immunization for selected risk groups. The current increase of the percentage of meningococcal C diseases to 28 - 30 % gives reason for further discussion regarding immunization strategies. How-ever, the STIKO expressively declares, that in addition to the recommendation for risk groups, the physician can use all vaccines licensed in Germany without any restriction. It is his/her responsibility to advice the patients regarding immunization possibilities against the life-threatening meningococcal disease, particularly if cases are occurring.