Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1989-10-23
pubmed:abstractText
In 1985, nationwide surveillance of meningococcal disease aimed at establishing appropriate guidelines for prophylaxis started in Italy. The incidence of disease was 1.1/100,000 in 1985 and 0.6/100,000 in 1987. This decreasing trend was particularly evident among military recruits (from 17.3/100,000 in 1985 to 5/100,000 in 1987), reflecting the use of bivalent serogroup (A + C) meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine in all new recruits since January 1987. The age distribution of cases was statistically different from that observed during the 1970s (P less than 0.001), with a shift towards older age groups. Men have been in the majority (516 vs. 358, P less than 0.0000001). Group C has been the most common serogroup encountered (72.2%), while only 18% of the isolates belonged to serogroup B. Among military recruits, serogroup C accounted for 92% (81/88) of the cases. The proportion of strains resistant to sulphonamides was 67%, while only 3% strains were resistant to rifampicin and to minocycline. Reduced susceptibility to ampicillin and to penicillin was observed in 3 and 4% strains respectively. Nine secondary cases were all due to failure in the administration of chemoprophylaxis (sulphonamide given in seven cases, prophylaxis not attempted in two cases). Immunisation of all new military recruits and effective chemoprophylaxis of close contacts of cases are the major guidelines provided by the National Meningitis Surveillance Programme.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jul
pubmed:issn
0163-4453
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
19
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
69-74
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1989
pubmed:articleTitle
Meningococcal disease in Italy.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article