An Increase in Group B Invasive Meningococcal Disease Among Adolescents and Young Adults in England Following Easing of COVID-19 Containment Measures

Clark, S. A.; Campbell, Helen; Mensah, Anna; Lekshmi, Aiswarya; Walker, A. Earl; Ribeiro, Sonia; Walsh, Lloyd; Willerton, Laura; Bai, Xilian; Lucidarme, Jay; Ramsay, Mary; Ladhani, Shamez; Borrow, Ray

doi:10.2139/ssrn.3998164

Cited by 15 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Recent data from England and Wales reported an increase in the number of IMD cases among adolescents and young adults, but not in children <5 years old who are targeted by vaccination against meningococci of serogroup B, unlike adolescents and young adults. Our data suggest that for serogroups B, W, and Y, the IMD cases started to increase again during the second half of 2021, in particular, among those <1 year old [ 17 , 18 ]. No general vaccination was implemented in France against serogroups W and Y.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Changes in Invasive Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae Infections in France during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Deghmane

Taha

2022

Microorganisms

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BackgroundSince the appearance of COVID-19 in January 2020, invasive bacterial infections have decreased significantly worldwide. However, alterations in age and sex distributions, clinical forms, phenotypes, and genotypes of isolates have not been analyzed. Our goal is to present and discuss these data considering the current COVID-19 pandemic situation. Methods: The data of the national reference center for meningococci and Haemophilus influenzae in France were mined to examine the above aspects of invasive bacterial infection before (2018–2019) and after (2020–2021) the COVID-19 pandemic. Detailed epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological data were collected, and whole genome sequencing was carried out on meningococcal isolates (n = 1466). Results: In addition to the overall decline in the number of cases, various changes in age, sex, and phenotypes of isolates were also noted. As for N. meningitidis, more cases were observed in adults, as well as more invasive pneumopathies. Furthermore, fewer hyperinvasive meningococcal genotypes have circulated since COVID-19 emerged. The situation has been different for H. influenzae, as the number of invasive cases among adults decreased due to a reduction in non-typeable isolates. In contrast, cases due to serotypeable isolates, particularly serotypes a and b, increased in children <5 years-old. Conclusions: It is possible that measures implemented to stop COVID-19 may have reduced the circulation of N. meningitidis and H. influenzae isolates, but to a variable extent. This may be due to differences in circulation between these two species according to age groups. Vaccination schedules against these two species may have also influenced the evolution of these invasive bacterial infections since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Changes in Invasive Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae Infections in France during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Deghmane

Taha

2022

Microorganisms

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“…Such reduction may be responsible for an 'immunity-gap" that can promote a rebound in these invasive bacterial infections (29). Indeed, a rapid rebound seems to occur for N. meningitidis in England (30) and France (31) since the end of 2021. This is also in agreement with our results of the rapidly increased circulation of all three bacterial agents since November 2021 (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of respiratory pathogens in COVID patients

Michel

STOICA

Aouiti-Trabelsi

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Background: Management of a novel respiratory virus causing severe pneumonitis included the use of antibiotics to prevent bacterial co-infections and secondary infections. However, the impact of this antibiotic use on the selection of resistant bacterial isolates needs to be evaluated. Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective study from November 14, 2020 to December 31, 2021 to assess the prevalence of several members of the nasopharyngeal microbiota from PCR-positive SARS-CoV-2 subjects. The study population corresponded to 1030 nasopharyngeal swabs positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the university hospital of Rouen site in symptomatic patients aged 16 years and older. Real-time PCR was used to detect the presence of Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumonia, Neisseria meningitidis and influenza A virus. An analysis of the ftsI gene was further used to analyze beta-lactam resistance in H. influenzae. Results: The results reveled less than expected carriage rate with 5% for H. influenzae, 1.2% for N. meningitidisand 3.7% for S. pneumoniae and an absence of influenza A. On the other hand, there was a significant difference (p<0.01) between the "carriage" and "no carriage" groups on age, sex, oxygen therapy and orotracheal intubation, implying a more severe evolution of the COVID-19 in carriers. Analysis of the ftsI gene reveals 26% of predicted resistance to amoxicillin without resistance to third generation cephalosporins. Conclusions: COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted bacterial and viral epidemiology, leading to lower circulation of several respiratory pathogens.

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“…However, the COVID-19 situation should not slow vaccination program updates, especially since meningococcal transmission could be facilitated by the lifting of the measures that minimized close contact and limited social gatherings and the reduction in childhood vaccination rates observed in some countries during the pandemic ( 54 ). According to a preprint analysis by the UK Health Security Agency, there was an increase in MenB IMD in adolescents and young adults in England following the easing of COVID-19 containment measures ( 55 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overview of meningococcal epidemiology and national immunization programs in children and adolescents in 8 Western European countries

et al. 2022

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BackgroundIn Europe, meningococcal (Men) vaccines are available against 5 of the 6 serogroups responsible of nearly all cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). Meningococcal vaccination has been introduced in the national immunization programs (NIPs) for children and adolescents of numerous European countries, but with no consistent strategy across countries.ObjectivesTo describe IMD epidemiology, NIPs, and vaccination coverage rates (VCRs) in children and adolescents in 8 Western European countries.MethodsEpidemiological data (from 1999 to 2019), NIPs regarding meningococcal vaccination status, and VCRs were collected from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and/or national websites.ResultsMenB was the most common serogroup. In Belgium, Spain, France, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (UK), and Portugal, incidence was greater for MenW than MenC. In 2019, MenB risk was covered in 2 countries (Italy, UK). MenC risk was covered in all countries, via MenC only (countries: N = 3), MenACWY only (N = 2), or MenC (infants/children) and MenACWY (adolescents) (N = 3) vaccination. VCRs were higher in children than adolescents.ConclusionOur study confirmed the diversity of NIPs, including in neighboring European countries with similar factors like economic resources and epidemiological risk, thus indicating that other factors underlie NIPs. Convergence toward a more common immunization program including MenACWY and MenB vaccination would promote equity and safe travel regarding infectious diseases for young people, and possibly improve the understanding of vaccination by patients and healthcare professionals.

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An Increase in Group B Invasive Meningococcal Disease Among Adolescents and Young Adults in England Following Easing of COVID-19 Containment Measures

Cited by 15 publications

References 10 publications

Changes in Invasive Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae Infections in France during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Changes in Invasive Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae Infections in France during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Prevalence of respiratory pathogens in COVID patients

Overview of meningococcal epidemiology and national immunization programs in children and adolescents in 8 Western European countries

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