TY - JOUR
T1 - Epidemiology of meningitis in Oman—Implications for future surveillance
AU - Kurup, Padmamohan J.
AU - Al-Abri, Seif
AU - Al-Mahrooqi, Salim
AU - Al-Jardani, Amina
AU - Bawikar, Shyam
AU - Al-Rawahi, Bader
AU - Al-Abaidani, Idris
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Atlantis Press International B.V.
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - Objectives: This study aimed to understand the epidemiology of meningitis cases admitted to hospitals in Oman and to identify any changing microbial patterns from the introduction of the new vaccines. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all cases of meningitis reported through a national surveillance system. Meningitis is a notifiable disease. Results: Of a total of 581 cases of meningitis from the period between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2013, 15% (88) were confirmed to be bacterial in origin and 7.2% (42/581) viral. In 50.9% (296) of patients with suspected pyogenic meningitis, no specific bacterial pathogen were identified, and in 26% of cases (151) a cerebrospinal fluid study could not be undertaken. Among 88 cases with confirmed bacterial pathogens the organisms identified were Streptococcus pneumoniae (65.9%), Neisseria meningitides (18.2%), Haemophilus influenzae (6.8%), and other organisms (9.1%). The peak incidence was in children <2 years of age (39.4%). It showed notable decline in H. influenzae cases as well as pneumococcal meningitis cases, possibly indicative of the successful immunization program. Conclusion: A drop in H. Influenzae and pneumococcal meningitis cases was possibly the effect of the introduction of vaccines. It shows the need for improving diagnostic accuracy, laboratory capacities, and quality of surveillance reporting.
AB - Objectives: This study aimed to understand the epidemiology of meningitis cases admitted to hospitals in Oman and to identify any changing microbial patterns from the introduction of the new vaccines. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all cases of meningitis reported through a national surveillance system. Meningitis is a notifiable disease. Results: Of a total of 581 cases of meningitis from the period between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2013, 15% (88) were confirmed to be bacterial in origin and 7.2% (42/581) viral. In 50.9% (296) of patients with suspected pyogenic meningitis, no specific bacterial pathogen were identified, and in 26% of cases (151) a cerebrospinal fluid study could not be undertaken. Among 88 cases with confirmed bacterial pathogens the organisms identified were Streptococcus pneumoniae (65.9%), Neisseria meningitides (18.2%), Haemophilus influenzae (6.8%), and other organisms (9.1%). The peak incidence was in children <2 years of age (39.4%). It showed notable decline in H. influenzae cases as well as pneumococcal meningitis cases, possibly indicative of the successful immunization program. Conclusion: A drop in H. Influenzae and pneumococcal meningitis cases was possibly the effect of the introduction of vaccines. It shows the need for improving diagnostic accuracy, laboratory capacities, and quality of surveillance reporting.
KW - Haemophilus influenzae
KW - Lumbar puncture
KW - Meningitis
KW - Neisseria meningitides
KW - Oman
KW - Streptococcus pneumoniae
KW - Surveillance
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U2 - 10.2991/j.jegh.2018.02.001
DO - 10.2991/j.jegh.2018.02.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 30864769
AN - SCOPUS:85062858726
SN - 2210-6006
VL - 8
SP - 231
EP - 235
JO - Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
JF - Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
IS - 3-4
ER -