Article,

The changing epidemiology of meningococcal disease in the United States, 1992-1996

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The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 180 (6): 1894--901 (December 1999)PMID: 10558946.
DOI: 10.1086/315158

Abstract

New meningococcal vaccines are undergoing clinical trials, and changes in the epidemiologic features of meningococcal disease will affect their use. Active laboratory-based, population-based US surveillance for meningococcal disease during 1992-1996 was used to project that 2400 cases of meningococcal disease occurred annually. Incidence was highest in infants; however, 32\% of cases occurred in persons \textgreater/=30 years of age. Serogroup C caused 35\% of cases; serogroup B, 32\%; and serogroup Y, 26\%. Increasing age (relative risk RR, 1.01 per year), having an isolate obtained from blood (RR, 4.5), and serogroup C (RR, 1.6) were associated with increased case fatality. Among serogroup B isolates, the most commonly expressed serosubtype was P1.15; 68\% of isolates expressed 1 of the 6 most common serosubtypes. Compared with cases occurring in previous years, recent cases are more likely to be caused by serogroup Y and to occur among older age groups. Ongoing surveillance is necessary to determine the stability of serogroup and serosubtype distribution.

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