PATTERN OF BACTERIAL-MENINGITIS IN ITALY, 1994

During 1994, 603 cases of bacterial meningitis were reported in Italy. Seventy-five percent of cases with determined etiology was due to thr ee agents: Neisseria meningitidis (33.4%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (2 3.4%) and Haemophilus influenzae (18.6%). The majority of cases due to N. meningitidis and H. influenzae occurred in subjects below five yea rs of age (35.7% and 84.8%, respectively) while S. pneumoniae accounte d for 52.8% of meningitis cases in subjects older than 44 year of age. The estimated incidence of N. meningitidis on the national population in 1994 was 0.27 per 100,000. Serogroup B accounted for 62.5% of the serotyped isolates, group C for 23.1%, group A for 7.2%, group W135 fo r 3.6%, group Y for 1.8%. All tested meningococcal strains were suscep tible to penicillin as well as to rifampin. Incidence of meningococcal meningitis in 1994 has been low suggesting that its relative importan ce compared to other bacteria causing meningitis is likely to change i n the future, Therefore, extended surveillance on bacterial meningitis by other etiological agents has to be maintained and implemented in o rder to undertake the appropriate control measures and evaluate their effect.