Global Epidemiology of Meningococcal Disease-Causing Serogroups Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review
Abstract Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is associated with high morbidity and mortality and predominantly caused by five Neisseria meningitidis serogroups (A/B/C/W/Y). Polysaccharide conjugate vaccines induce T-cell-dependent immune responses, are immunogenic in infants and adults, and reduce...
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Adis, Springer Healthcare
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Infectious Diseases and Therapy |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40121-024-01063-5 |
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| author | Steven Shen Jamie Findlow Paula Peyrani |
| author_facet | Steven Shen Jamie Findlow Paula Peyrani |
| author_sort | Steven Shen |
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| description | Abstract Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is associated with high morbidity and mortality and predominantly caused by five Neisseria meningitidis serogroups (A/B/C/W/Y). Polysaccharide conjugate vaccines induce T-cell-dependent immune responses, are immunogenic in infants and adults, and reduce carriage, and vaccination of age groups associated with high-carriage can provide indirect protection in the unvaccinated (herd immunity). Successful vaccination programs must be tailored to local epidemiology, which varies geographically, temporally, and by age and serogroup. Serogroup A IMD once predominated globally, but has largely disappeared following mass vaccination programs. Serogroup B was a predominant cause of IMD in many global regions from 2010 to 2018, typically affecting younger age groups. Spread of serogroup C clonal complex-11 IMD in the 1990s prompted implementation of MenC vaccine programs in many countries, resulting in declines in prevalence. Serogroup C still caused > 20% of global IMD through the mid-2010s. Serogroup W became a significant contributor to global IMD after Hajj pilgrimage outbreaks in 2000; subsequent increases of endemic disease and outbreaks were reported pre-pandemic in many regions. Serogroup Y emerged in the 1990s as a significant cause of IMD throughout various regions and prevalence had increased or stabilized from 2010 to 2018. Serogroup X is uncommon outside the African meningitis belt, and its prevalence has declined since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Global IMD declines during the pandemic were followed by resurgences generally caused by serogroups that were prevalent pre-pandemic and affecting mainly unvaccinated age groups (particularly adolescents/young adults). Recent IMD epidemiology underscores the importance of vaccinating at-risk age groups against regionally prevalent serogroups; for example, the anti-serogroup X component of the recently prequalified MenACWXY vaccine is likely to provide limited protection outside the African meningitis belt. In other regions, comprehensive vaccination against MenB and MenACWY, which could be streamlined by the recently approved MenABCWY vaccine, seems more appropriate. |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Adis, Springer Healthcare |
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| series | Infectious Diseases and Therapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-262baf2e32ee45b893b05181b687ed8d2025-08-20T02:33:02ZengAdis, Springer HealthcareInfectious Diseases and Therapy2193-82292193-63822024-11-0113122489250710.1007/s40121-024-01063-5Global Epidemiology of Meningococcal Disease-Causing Serogroups Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative ReviewSteven Shen0Jamie Findlow1Paula Peyrani2Pfizer Global Medical Affairs, Vaccines and Antivirals, Pfizer Canada ULCPfizer Global Medical Affairs, Vaccines and Antivirals, Pfizer LtdPfizer Global Medical Affairs, Vaccines and Antivirals, Pfizer IncAbstract Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is associated with high morbidity and mortality and predominantly caused by five Neisseria meningitidis serogroups (A/B/C/W/Y). Polysaccharide conjugate vaccines induce T-cell-dependent immune responses, are immunogenic in infants and adults, and reduce carriage, and vaccination of age groups associated with high-carriage can provide indirect protection in the unvaccinated (herd immunity). Successful vaccination programs must be tailored to local epidemiology, which varies geographically, temporally, and by age and serogroup. Serogroup A IMD once predominated globally, but has largely disappeared following mass vaccination programs. Serogroup B was a predominant cause of IMD in many global regions from 2010 to 2018, typically affecting younger age groups. Spread of serogroup C clonal complex-11 IMD in the 1990s prompted implementation of MenC vaccine programs in many countries, resulting in declines in prevalence. Serogroup C still caused > 20% of global IMD through the mid-2010s. Serogroup W became a significant contributor to global IMD after Hajj pilgrimage outbreaks in 2000; subsequent increases of endemic disease and outbreaks were reported pre-pandemic in many regions. Serogroup Y emerged in the 1990s as a significant cause of IMD throughout various regions and prevalence had increased or stabilized from 2010 to 2018. Serogroup X is uncommon outside the African meningitis belt, and its prevalence has declined since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Global IMD declines during the pandemic were followed by resurgences generally caused by serogroups that were prevalent pre-pandemic and affecting mainly unvaccinated age groups (particularly adolescents/young adults). Recent IMD epidemiology underscores the importance of vaccinating at-risk age groups against regionally prevalent serogroups; for example, the anti-serogroup X component of the recently prequalified MenACWXY vaccine is likely to provide limited protection outside the African meningitis belt. In other regions, comprehensive vaccination against MenB and MenACWY, which could be streamlined by the recently approved MenABCWY vaccine, seems more appropriate.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40121-024-01063-5COVID-19EpidemiologyInvasive meningococcal diseaseSerogroupsVaccination programsVaccines |
| spellingShingle | Steven Shen Jamie Findlow Paula Peyrani Global Epidemiology of Meningococcal Disease-Causing Serogroups Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review Infectious Diseases and Therapy COVID-19 Epidemiology Invasive meningococcal disease Serogroups Vaccination programs Vaccines |
| title | Global Epidemiology of Meningococcal Disease-Causing Serogroups Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review |
| title_full | Global Epidemiology of Meningococcal Disease-Causing Serogroups Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review |
| title_fullStr | Global Epidemiology of Meningococcal Disease-Causing Serogroups Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global Epidemiology of Meningococcal Disease-Causing Serogroups Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review |
| title_short | Global Epidemiology of Meningococcal Disease-Causing Serogroups Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review |
| title_sort | global epidemiology of meningococcal disease causing serogroups before and after the covid 19 pandemic a narrative review |
| topic | COVID-19 Epidemiology Invasive meningococcal disease Serogroups Vaccination programs Vaccines |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40121-024-01063-5 |
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