Implementation of Case-Based Surveillance and Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction to Monitor Bacterial Meningitis Pathogens in Chad

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Infect Dis
• Personal Author:
  Paye, Marietou F ; Gamougame, Kadidja ; Payamps, Sarah K ; Feagins, Alicia R ; Moto, Daugla Doumagoum ; Moyengar, Ronelngar ; Naïbeï, Nathan ; Vuong, Jeni ; Diallo, Alpha Oumar ; Tate, Ashley ; Soeters, Heidi M ; Wang, Xin ; Acyl, Mahamat Ali
• Description:
  Background
  
  Meningococcal serogroup A conjugate vaccine (MACV) was introduced in Chad during 2011–2012. Meningitis surveillance has been conducted nationwide since 2003, with case-based surveillance (CBS) in select districts from 2012. In 2016, the MenAfriNet consortium supported Chad to implement CBS in 4 additional districts and real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) at the national reference laboratory (NRL) to improve pathogen detection. We describe analysis of bacterial meningitis cases during 3 periods: pre-MACV (2010–2012), pre-MenAfriNet (2013–2015), and post-MenAfriNet (2016–2018).
  
  Methods
  
  National surveillance targeted meningitis cases caused by Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Cerebrospinal fluid specimens, inoculated trans-isolate media, and/or isolates from suspected meningitis cases were tested via culture, latex, and/or rt-PCR; confirmed bacterial meningitis was defined by a positive result on any test. We calculated proportion of suspected cases with a specimen received by period, and proportion of specimens with a bacterial meningitis pathogen identified, by period, pathogen, and test.
  
  Results
  
  The NRL received specimens for 6.8% (876/12813), 46.4% (316/681), and 79.1% (787/995) of suspected meningitis cases in 2010–2012, 2013–2015, and 2016–2018, respectively, with a bacterial meningitis pathogen detected in 33.6% (294/876), 27.8% (88/316), and 33.2% (261/787) of tested specimens. The number of N. meningitidis serogroup A (NmA) among confirmed bacterial meningitis cases decreased from 254 (86.4%) during 2010–2012 to 2 (2.3%) during 2013–2015, with zero NmA cases detected after 2014. In contrast, proportional and absolute increases were seen between 2010–2012, 2013–2015, and 2016–2018 in cases caused by S. pneumoniae (5.1% [15/294], 65.9% [58/88], and 52.1% [136/261]), NmX (0.7% [2/294], 1.1% [1/88], and 22.2% [58/261]), and Hib (0.3% [1/294], 11.4% [10/88], and 14.9% [39/261]). Of specimens received at the NRL, proportions tested during the 3 periods were 47.7% (418), 53.2% (168), and 9.0% (71) by latex; 81.4% (713), 98.4% (311), and 93.9% (739) by culture; and 0.0% (0), 0.0% (0), and 90.5% (712) by rt-PCR, respectively. During the post-MenAfriNet period (2016–2018), 86.1% (678) of confirmed cases were tested by both culture and rt-PCR, with 12.5% (85) and 32.4% (220) positive by culture and rt-PCR, respectively.
  
  Conclusions
  
  CBS implementation was associated with increased specimen referral. Increased detection of non-NmA cases could reflect changes in incidence or increased sensitivity of case detection with rt-PCR. Continued surveillance with the use of rt-PCR to monitor changing epidemiology could inform the development of effective vaccination strategies.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Adult Child Child, Preschool Clinical Laboratory Techniques Female Humans Infant Male Meningitis, Bacterial Population Surveillance Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Sensitivity And Specificity Young Adult

  More +
• Source:
  J Infect Dis. 2019; 220(Suppl 4):S182-S189
• Pubmed ID:
  31671450
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC6822964
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Name as Subject:
  MenAfriNet
• Place as Subject:
  Chad
• Volume:
  220
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:610da5738ee74996fc18f715d05b0e994a2cfbc38256af5d2b663ff24dc0b208
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/89740/cdc_89740_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 813.43 KB ]