A prospective study of etiology of childhood acute bacterial meningitis, Turkey

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Mehmet Ceyhan, Hacettepe University; Inci Yildirim, Emory University; Paul Balmer, Health Protection Agency North West; Ray Borrow, Health Protection Agency North West; Bunyamin Dikici, Dicle University; Mehmet Turgut, Firat University; Nese Kurt, Firat University; Aysel Aydogan, Dr. Behcet Uz Children’s Hospital; Cigdem Ecevit, Dr. Behcet Uz Children’s Hospital; Yasar Anlar, Mayis University; Ozlem Gulumser, Mayis University; Gonul Tanir, Mayis University; Nuran Salman, Istanbul University; Nezahat Gurlertt, Istanbul University; Nevin Hatipoglu, Istanbul University; Mustafa Hacimustafaoglu, Uludag University; Solmaz Celebi, Uludag University; Yavuz Coskun, Gaziantep University; Emre Alhan, Cukurova University; Umit Celik, Cukurova University; Yildiz Camcioglu, Istanbul University; Gulten Secmeer, Hacettepe University; Deniz Gur, Pediatric Microbiology Laboratory; Steve Gray, Health Protection Agency North West
• Language: English
• Date: 2008-07-01
• Publisher: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: Emerging Infectious Diseases is an open access journal in the public domain.
• License: Creative Commons Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid1407.070938
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Emerging Infectious Disease
• ISSN: 1080-6040
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 7
• Start Page: 1089
• End Page: 1096
• Grant/Funding Information: This study was supported by Novartis Vaccines.
• Keywords: Infectious Diseases; VACCINES; INFLUENZAE TYPE-B; CHILDREN; EPIDEMIOLOGY; W135 MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE; CARRIAGE; NEISSERIA-MENINGITIDIS; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; ENGLAND; STREPTOCOCCUS-PNEUMONIAE; Immunology; HAJJ PILGRIMS; Science & Technology
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, General; Health Sciences, Immunology

Abstract

Determination of the etiology of bacterial meningitis and estimating cost of disease are important in guiding vaccination policies. To determine the incidence and etiology of meningitis in Turkey, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were obtained prospectively from children (1 month-17 years of age) with a clinical diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis. Multiplex PCR was used to detect DNA evidence of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and Neisseria meningitidis. In total, 408 CSF samples were collected, and bacterial etiology was determined in 243 cases; N. meningitidis was detected in 56.5%, S. pneumoniae in 22.5%, and Hib in 20.5% of the PCR-positive samples. Among N. meningitidis-positive CSF samples, 42.7%, 31.1%, 2.2%, and 0.7% belonged to serogroups W-135, B, Y, and A, respectively. This study highlights the emergence of serogroup W-135 disease in Turkey and concludes that vaccines to prevent meningococcal disease in this region must provide reliable protection against this serogroup.