Bacterial Meningitis Surveillance in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2005-2010: Successes and Challenges of a Regional Network

Abstract

Objective To describe epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region countries and assist in introduction of new bacterial vaccines. Study design A laboratory-based sentinel surveillance was established in 2004, and up to 10 countries joined the network until 2010. Personnel at participating hospitals and national public health laboratories received training in surveillance and laboratory methods and used standard clinical and laboratory-confirmed case definitions. Results Over 22 000 suspected cases of meningitis were reported among children ≤5 years old and >6600 among children >5 years old. In children ≤5 years old, 921 of 13 125 probable cases (7.0%) were culture-confirmed. The most commonly isolated pathogens were S pneumoniae (27% of confirmed cases), N meningitidis (22%), and H influenzae (10%). Among culture-confirmed case-patients with known outcome, case-fatality rate was 7.0% and 12.2% among children ≤5 years old and those >5 years old, respectively. Declining numbers of Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis cases within 2 years post-Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine introduction were observed in Pakistan. Conclusions Bacterial meningitis continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Surveillance networks for bacterial meningitis ensure that all sites are using standardized methodologies. Surveillance data are useful to monitor impact of various interventions including vaccines, but maintaining data quality requires consistent reporting and regular technical support.

Acute bacterial meningitis in Iran: Systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Three major pathogens have been detected for manifestation of ABM which are listed as follows: Streptococcus pneumonia (pneumococcus), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus). Transparently, they have been responsible for 118.400, 83.000, and 75.000 deaths, respectively worldwide [ 7 , 8 ]. According to the above evidence analysis, a wide range of bacteria can cause ABM.…”

WITHDRAWN: Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern of Bacterial Meningitis Among Patients in Quetta, Pakistan

“…2018; Taj and Jamil 2016;Zaidi et al, 2009). Thus in many regions of Pakistan, a drastic reduction (72%) in H. in uenza associated meningitis cases were observed due to vaccination coverage(Teleb et al 2013). The main reasons of high frequency of BM cases in Balochistan were due to low coverage of vaccination and higher urbanization among rural population(Umer et al 2020; Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.…”

Systematic review of invasive meningococcal disease epidemiology in the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa region

“…CFR data were available in 27 studies in the EM region (Iran n = 4, [ 50 , 67 , 91 , 92 ]; Kuwait n = 3, [ 51 , 93 , 94 ]; Pakistan n = 2, [ 95 , 96 ]; Qatar n = 2, [ 52 , 69 ]; Saudi Arabia n = 4, [ 53 – 55 , 71 ]; Turkey n = 10, [ 57 – 59 , 74 , 76 , 97 – 101 ]; and Yemen n = 2, [ 60 , 102 ]) and five studies in the NA region (Egypt n = 3, [ 62 , 78 , 79 ]; Morocco n = 1, [ 63 ] and Tunisia n = 1, [ 89 ]); one multi-country study spanned both regions [ 103 ]. Data were collected between 1987 and 2018.…”