Pediatric Tidbits for Today: There have been 2 recent meningococcal meningitis outbreaks in the US recently caused by the B strain of N. Meningitidis. Meningococcal strains vary in prevalence by geographic area: C in England/Europe, A in the Middle East and Africa, B in New Zealand, and A,C, W, and Y in the US. To date, in the US, we are able to vaccinate effectively against the most prevalent strains: A, C, W, and Y. Vaccine strategies to include B in the current vaccines have been unsuccessful because the protection level of all of the other groups decrease. So, this leaves vaccinated persons protected against 70% of all strains common in the US for meningococcal meningitis, but we are still at risk for Type B (about 30% of cases). I am a strong advocate of this vaccine even though it leaves us uncovered for Type B because we have to do the best we can with what we have. Meningococcal disease strikes fast (symptoms within 19 hours of exposure) and leaves a swath of anxiety, death, and residual deformities (amputations, deafness, etc). The good news...vaccine manufacturers continue to try to include B in future vaccines.
Posted on: Mon, 05 May 2014 13:11:01 +0000
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