Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis (meningococcal meningitis) is an acute respiratory infectious disease with high mortality and serious sequelae. Meningococcal vaccine is an effective measure to prevent and control meningococcal meningitis. At present, group B meningococcal meningitis has become the main prevalent serum group in the world, including China. Meningococcal ACYW and other vaccines are mainly composed of capsular polysaccharides, while the main component of group B meningococcal vaccine is protein, including outer membrane vesicles (OMV) and recombinant protein vaccine. The methods for evaluating the immunogenicity of group B meningococcal vaccine include hSBA and alternative methods such as meningococcal antigen typing system (MATS), flow cytometric meningococcal antigen surface expression assay (MEASURE), genetic meningococcal antigen typing system (gMATS) and bexsero antigen sequence type (BAST). The evaluation of vaccine immunogenicity is the basis of vaccine development and clinical trial research, However, at present, there is no group B meningococcal vaccine in China. Therefore, in this paper, the research progress of immunogenicity evaluation of group B meningococcal vaccine has been reviewed, in order to provide technical guidance for the research and development of group B meningococcal vaccine, immunogenicity evaluation and clinical trial research in China.
Humans ; Meningitis, Meningococcal/prevention & control* ; Meningococcal Vaccines ; Neisseria meningitidis ; Serogroup ; Vaccines, Combined

Two cases of epidemic situation of serogroup B meningitis in infants in Shandong Province in 2021 were investigated. Samples of cases and their close contacts were collected for isolation, culture and identification of Neisseria meningitides (Nm). The isolates were subjected to multi-locus sequence typing, outer membrane protein porA and fetA genotyping and drug sensitivity test. Two laboratory-confirmed outbreaks of serogroup B meningitis were reported from Yantai city and Linyi city. The indicated cases were infants aged 5 months and 2 months old respectively. They were not vaccinated with meningitis vaccine. Their epidemiological characteristics and clinical manifestations were similar and the prognosis was good. The same sequence type (ST) of serogroup B Nm strains as the indicated cases was detected in the samples of close family contacts, but without subsequent cases. Among them, Yantai strain was were identified as the type ST-8920, belonging to CC4821 clonal complex, and the genotypes of porA and fetA were p1.21-2, 23 and F3-1. Linyi strain was a new type, belonging to CC4821 clonal complex and the genotypes of porA and fetA were p1.20, 23 and F1-91. The above strains were resistant to penicillin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and Chemitrim, and their sensitivity to cephalosporin decreased. Two cases of infant serogroup B epidemic were relatively rare in China, which were different from the epidemiological and pathogenic characteristics of other Nm serogroups in the past.
Epidemics ; Humans ; Infant ; Meningitis, Meningococcal/epidemiology* ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Neisseria meningitidis ; Serogroup

Meningococcal meningitis is an acute, severe respiratory infectious disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis. Immunization with meningococcal vaccine is the most effective measure to control and prevent transmission of meningococcal meningitis. Meningococcal vaccines in the Chinese market include meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine, meningococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine, and a combined vaccine containing meningococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine. This article reviews research progress on the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of meningococcal vaccines, particularly in the Chinese market, to support appropriate use of the various meningococcal vaccines for preventing meningococcal meningitis.
Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Humans ; Immunization/economics* ; Meningitis, Meningococcal/prevention & control* ; Meningococcal Vaccines/immunology* ; Vaccination/economics* ; Vaccines, Conjugate/immunology*

Sepsis and meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis are rare in neonates, but neonatal sepsis and meningitis are associated with a high rate of mortality. Meningococcal disease is commonly reported in older children and adolescents and is known to be more prevalent in community settings. In this study, a 16-day-old neonate was diagnosed with serogroup B meningococcal sepsis and meningitis. The baby was treated with antibiotics at the early stages of the infection and was discharged in good condition without any complications. This case report can serve to raise awareness of the incidence and importance of meningococcal infection in neonates, especially serogroup B.
Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Meningitis ; Meningococcal Infections ; Mortality ; Neisseria meningitidis ; Neisseria ; Sepsis ; Serogroup

Antibody Formation ; Humans ; Meningitis, Meningococcal ; Meningococcal Vaccines

Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Meningitis, Meningococcal ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety of meningococcal group AC bivalent polysaccharide conjugate vaccine among children aged 5-24 months old.

METHODSFrom July 2011 to June 2012, a total of 34 411 children aged 5-24 month-old who voluntarily vaccinated meningococcal group AC bivalent polysaccharide conjugate vaccine in Zhongshan city were included. The adverse effects within 72 hours were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS34 411 children were recruited, including 18 708 boys (54.36%), whose mean age were ( 11.4 ± 3.9 ) months old.Within 72 hours, the incidence rates of local adverse effects were 0.76% (261/34 411) for erythema,0.57% (197/34 411) for sclerosis,0.56% (191/34 411) for swelling,0.42% (143/34 411) for pain,0.15% (53/34 411) for pruritus, and 0.15% (50/34 411) for rash on the injection site. The overall incidence rate of local adverse effects was 1.61% (554/34 411; 95%CI:1.48%-1.74%). The incidence rates of systemic adverse effects were 0.98% (312/34 411) for fever,0.48% (164/34 411) for anorexia,0.31% (108/34 411) for diarrhea,0.29% (100/34 411) for malaise,0.20% (70/34 411) for nausea and vomiting, and 0.08% (26/34 411) for headache. The overall incidence rate of systemic adverse effects was 1.64% (565/34 411; 95%CI:1.51%-1.78%).25 children (0.07%) had hyperpyrexia ( > 39°C), and the time of duration lasted less than 48 hours.16 children (0.05%) had symptoms of cold, such as cough and catarrh.No accident and other serious events were reported. The incidence rate of systemic adverse effects among boys was 1.79% (334/18 708), which was higher than that of girls (1.47%, 231/15 703), the difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 5.22, P < 0.01). The incidence rate of systemic adverse effects among children aged 5-12 month-old was 1.78% (411/23 113), which was higher than that among children aged 13-24 month-old (1.36%, 154/11 298), the difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 8.10, P < 0.01). The incidence rate of local adverse effects in children vaccinated the first dose was 1.72% (536/31 129), which was higher than that in children vaccinated the second or third dose (0.55%, 18/3282), the difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 25.81, P < 0.01). The incidence rate of systemic adverse effects in children vaccinated the first dose was 1.73% (539/31 129), which was higher than that in children vaccinated the second or third dose (0.79%, 26/5282), whose difference also showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 16.22, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe safety of meningococcal group AC bivalent polysaccharide conjugate vaccine among children aged 5-24 months old is relative good.

Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Meningitis, Meningococcal ; microbiology ; prevention & control ; Meningococcal Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup A ; Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial ; immunology ; Vaccines, Conjugate ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo characterize the meningococcal strains isolated from cases and close contacts with meningococcal disease associated with an outbreak in a jail in May 2010 by investigating the national distribution of hyperinvasive ST-4821 serogroup C clone associated with this outbreak.

METHODSThe cases were described based on the clinical symptoms and laboratory results. Pharyngeal swabs were cultured for N. meningitidis from men in the jail. Meningococcal isolates were identified by serogrouping, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST), respectively. Four hundred and sixteen serogroup C N. meningitidis strains were collected from 27 provinces between 2003 and 2010 for a nationwide survey and analyzed by PFGE and MLST.

RESULTSThree persons in a jail system were infected with invasive N. meningitidis serogroup C. All isolates tested had matching PFGE patterns and belonged to the multilocus sequence type (ST) 4821 clonal complex. All 47 N. meningitidis strains were identified from the pharyngeal swabs of 166 peoples in the jail, and 26 of them belonged to ST-4821 serogroup C clone, and 90.14% (375/416) serogroup C strains identified in the nationwide survey belonged to the ST-4821 complex. The ST-4821 serogroup C clone was spread nationwide, distributed in 24 provinces, especially in eastern provinces between 2003 and 2010.

CONCLUSIONEndemic transmission and carriage rate of ST-4821 serogroup C clone are high in this jail system. The ST-4821 serogroup C clone is spreading in China and nationwide distributed despite the existence of some effective vaccines.

Carrier State ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Humans ; Meningitis, Meningococcal ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Neisseria meningitidis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Pharynx ; microbiology ; Prisons

Meningococcal Disease, manifesting as meningitis and septicemia, is a life-threatening bacterial infection that results in significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in childhood. Its epidemic potential and limited opportunities for clinical intervention due to its rapid course present unique public health and clinical challenges. Incidence is highest in infants and young children, with a secondary peak of risk in adolescents. Approximately 10% of cases are fatal and survivors can be left with serious and permanent sequelae including amputations, hearing loss and cognitive impairment. Transmission is only from human-to-human, by infected respiratory tract secretions or saliva and therefore crowding poses a tremendously elevated risk for disease development. Military recruits and university students are at high risk due to the high carriage rate in adolescents, their behavior patterns and close contact. Menveo(R) (Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics), a novel quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine directed against meningococcal serogroups A, C, W-135 and Y, has been shown to be immunogenic and well tolerated in all age groups and was recently licensed for use in Korea. Recent cases and deaths among military recruits drew public attention to their elevated risk and the Korean government has recommended vaccination of all new military recruits. Many Korean students seek to attend school, university, or language institutes in countries where routine meningococcal vaccination is required - clinicians should be aware of such requirements to ensure that students are vaccinated prior to arrival in the destination country.
Academies and Institutes ; Adolescent ; Amputation ; Bacterial Infections ; Child ; Crowding ; Dietary Sucrose ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Korea ; Meningitis ; Meningococcal Vaccines ; Military Personnel ; Neisseria meningitidis ; Public Health ; Respiratory System ; Saliva ; Sepsis ; Survivors ; Vaccination ; Vaccines

Introduction: Meningococcal disease is caused by Neisseria meningitidis that can present as fever or respiratory infection developing into a fulminant course. In February 2005, WHO experts confirmed that the Cordillera Administrative Region of the Philippines experienced an outbreak of Serogroup A Meningococcal Disease where there was an unusually large proportion of meningococcemia cases. Objectives: This study aims to describe the clinical profile of pediatric patients discharged from a tertiary hospital with a diagnosis of meningococcal disease and to identify the etiologic agent. Methodology: This is a retrospective descriptive study involving chart review of patients 0-18 years of age discharged from October 2004 to October 2006 with a diagnosis of either meningococcemia, meningococcal meningitis or both. Results: There were 217 discharges with this diagnosis. Of these, 100 (46.08%) belonged to the 0-18 years of age, 47% of who were male, 64% were Baguio residents, 28% were 0-1 year old, 19% were between 2-5 years old and 26% were 15-18 years old. 100% had a history of fever and 90% had rashes. 51% had a discharge diagnosis of Meningococcemia. 32% died due to septic shock, DIC. The etiologic agent was identified as Neisseria meningitidis. Conclusion: Of the study population, 53% were female. Children 0-5 years of age were most affected (47%). 100% had a history of fever. 32% died of septic shock. 62% were confirmed by laboratory. The culprit of this epidemic was a hypervirulent strain of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup A Subtype A 1.9 sensitive to Penicillin.
Human ; Male ; Female ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child Preschool ; Infant ; Infant Newborn ; MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTIONS ; NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS ; MENINGITIS, MENINGOCOCCAL