Global burden of meningitis and implications for strategy

Meningitis is the inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, which can be caused by bacterial, viral, fungal, or protozoan infections. From disease onset, meningitis can progress rapidly to kill within hours and survivors can be left with lifelong disabilities. 1 Brandtzaeg P van Deuren M Classification and pathogenesis of meningococcal infections. Methods Mol Biol. 2012; 799: 21-35 Crossref PubMed Scopus (73) Google Scholar The roll-out of conjugate vaccines that protect against Haemophilus influenzae type B, Neisseria meningitidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae have contributed to the reduction of meningitis mortality globally. 2 Wahl B O'Brien KL Greenbaum A et al. Burden of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b disease in children in the era of conjugate vaccines: global, regional, and national estimates for 2000–15. Lancet Global Health. 2018; 6: e744-e757 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (544) Google Scholar , 3 Bwaka A Bita A Lingani C et al. Status of the rollout of the meningococcal serogroup A conjugate vaccine in African meningitis belt countries in 2018. J Infect Dis. 2019; 220: 140-147 Crossref PubMed Scopus (32) Google Scholar The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2016 reported an estimated 21% decrease in meningitis deaths between 2000 and 2016, whereas incident cases increased from 2·50 million in 2000 to 2·82 million during this period. 4 GBD 2016 Meningitis CollaboratorsGlobal, regional, and national burden of meningitis, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet Neurol. 2018; 17: 1061-1082 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (180) Google Scholar Since those data were published, the WHO Defeating Meningitis 2030 Roadmap has set visionary goals to eliminate meningitis epidemics, reduce cases of and deaths from vaccine-preventable meningitis, reduce disability, and improve quality of life among survivors. 5 WHODefeating meningitis by 2030: a global road map. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240026407Date: June 24, 2021 Date accessed: November 26, 2021 Google Scholar Global, regional, and national burden of meningitis and its aetiologies, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019Substantial progress has been made in reducing meningitis mortality over the past three decades. However, more meningitis-related deaths might be prevented by quickly scaling up immunisation and expanding access to health services. Further reduction in the global meningitis burden should be possible through low-cost multivalent vaccines, increased access to accurate and rapid diagnostic assays, enhanced surveillance, and early treatment. Full-Text PDF Open Access