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Population-based surveillance for bacterial meningitis in the Dominican Republic: implications for control by vaccination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2001

E. GOMEZ
Affiliation:
Epidemiología, Secretaría de Estado de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social, Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana
M. PEGUERO
Affiliation:
Epidemiología, Secretaría de Estado de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social, Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana
J. SANCHEZ
Affiliation:
Departmento de Infectología, Clínica Infantil Dr Robert Reid Cabral, Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana
P. L. CASTELLANOS
Affiliation:
Pan American Health Organization, Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana
J. FERIS
Affiliation:
Departmento de Infectología, Clínica Infantil Dr Robert Reid Cabral, Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana
C. PEÑA
Affiliation:
Departmento de Infectología, Clínica Infantil Dr Robert Reid Cabral, Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana
L. BRUDZINSKI-LaCLAIRE
Affiliation:
Respiratory Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
O. S. LEVINE
Affiliation:
Respiratory Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Abstract

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Quantifying the local burden of disease is an important step towards the introduction of new vaccines, such as Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine. We adapted a generic protocol developed by the World Health Organization for population-based surveillance of bacterial meningitis. All hospitals that admit paediatric patients with meningitis in the National District, Dominican Republic were included in the system and standard laboratory methods were used. The system identified 111 cases of confirmed bacterial meningitis. Hib was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis, followed by group B streptococcus, S. pneumoniae, and N. meningitidis. Unlike hospital-based case series, this population-based system was able to calculate incidence rates. The incidence of Hib meningitis was 13 cases per 100 000 children < 5 years old. The data from this study were used by the Ministry of Health to support the introduction of routine Hib vaccination and will be used to monitor its effectiveness.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2000 Cambridge University Press