Public health management of meningococcal disease: Indications from a one year national survey in italy

New, revised guidelines for the public health management of meningococcal disease have been published in the United Kingdom, as a result of recent changes in the epidemiology of meningococcal disease together with the introduction of new vaccines and an accumulation of new evidence on risk evaluation and control methods (1). The guidelines cover pre-admission management, investigation of suspect cases, the role of public health, public health action after a single case, prophylaxis in healthcare settings and the management of clusters. The guidance contains detailed revisions on the use of antibiotics before admission to hospital, the rationale and indications for chemoprophylaxis, and the use of new vaccines. All recommendations within the review are graded according to the level of evidence on which they are based, probably the first European guidelines to do so (2).

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Lessons for and from the COVID-19 pandemic response – an appraisal of guidance for the public health management of Invasive Meningococcal Disease

Journal of Infection and Public Health ◽

10.1016/j.jiph.2021.06.014 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Brianna R. Morello ◽

Adriana Milazzo ◽

Helen S. Marshall ◽

Lynne C. Giles

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Meningococcal Disease ◽

Health Management ◽

Invasive Meningococcal Disease ◽

The Public ◽

Pandemic Response ◽

Public Health Management

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European public health policies for managing contacts of invasive meningococcal disease cases better harmonised in 2013 than in 2007

Eurosurveillance ◽

10.2807/1560-7917.es.2016.21.5.30125 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 21 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Sabine Vygen ◽

Wiebke Hellenbrand ◽

Pawel Stefanoff ◽

Germaine Hanquet ◽

Sigrid Heuberger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Meningococcal Disease ◽

Health Management ◽

European Countries ◽

Invasive Meningococcal Disease ◽

Post Exposure Prophylaxis ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Published Evidence ◽

Chi Squared ◽

Public Health Management

In 2007, a European survey identified variation in country policies on public health management of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). In 2009–10, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) published evidence-based guidance on IMD. We therefore surveyed again European countries to describe policies for managing IMD cases and contacts in 2013. We asked national IMD public health experts from 32 European countries to complete a questionnaire focusing on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for IMD contacts and meningococcal vaccination. Proportions in 2007 and 2013 were compared using the chi-squared test. All 32 countries responded, with responses from two regions for Belgium and Italy; half stated having used ECDC guidance to update national recommendations. PEP was recommended to close contacts in 33 of 34 countries/regions, mainly ciprofloxacin for adults (29/32 countries) and rifampicin for children (29/32 countries). ECDC guidance for managing IMD contacts in airplanes was strictly followed by five countries/regions. Twenty-three countries/regions participated in both surveys. Compared with 2007, in 2013, more countries/regions recommended i) ceftriaxone for children (15/23 vs 6/20; p = 0.03), ii) PEP for all children in the same preschool group (8/23 vs 17/23; p = 0.02). More countries/regions recommended evidence-based measures for IMD public health management in 2013 than 2007. However, some discrepancies remain and they call for further harmonisation.

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