Meningitis vaccines save infants lives

Haven’t heard much about bacterial meningitis in the past few years? Well, thanks to routine use of vaccines against Streptococcus group b, the most common bacterial cause, rates of the disease have declined by 59 percent in a decade. According to a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine, there were 6,000 annual cases of bacterial meningitis in 1998, compared to 4,000 reported cases in 2007. Researchers from the CDC, led by Michael Thigpen, evaluated data on bacterial meningitis cases from eight surveillance areas as part of the Emerging Infections Program Network; the study encompassed approximately 17.4 million people between 1998 and 2007.

In addition to vaccines, prenatal screening for the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, the most common cause, has helped reduce the toll of bacterial meningitis. This devastating infection leads to often deadly inflammation of the meninges — the membrane surrounding the central nervous system. Viral meningitis is more common but much less lethal than the bacterial variety; both, however, include symptoms of high fever, headache, and stiff neck.

“Though the disease may be uncommon, it is worrisome when it does occur, since 15 percent of those who contract it die,” warns ACSH’s Dr. Gilbert Ross. “Even for patients who survive the bacterial infection, long term consequences, including neurological and hearing impairment, may occur. Therefore, the more people we can get vaccinated, the more we can continue the decline in the incidence of this debilitating disease.”

ACSH’s Dr. Josh Bloom adds, “Pneumococcus and meningococcus are the two principle pathogens responsible for most bacterial meningitis cases. Effective pneumococcus vaccines became available about three years ago, and the meningococcus vaccines are starting to be approved now. It is important to get your children both types for optimal protection.”