Communicable
Disease Surveillance Centre Northern Ireland
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Bacterial meningitis is usually caused by infection with one of the following three organisms: Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae. The commonest form of bacterial meningitis is invasive meningococcal disease, caused by infection with N. meningitidis. This disease may present as meningitis (inflammation of the brain meninges) and/or septicaemia (blood poisoning) and is most common during the winter months.
Enhanced surveillance of meningococcal disease
Enhanced surveillance of meningococcal disease (ESMD) commenced in England and Wales in 1998, and was introduced to Northern Ireland in 1999. The system facilitates complete ascertainment of all cases of meningococcal disease, including those with a clinical diagnosis only. It also involves the collation of supplementary information which allows the identification of fatalities and clusters, and monitoring of the impact of the Men C vaccination programme.
Case definitions are as follows:
| Confirmed case: | Final diagnosis of meningitis, septicaemia or other invasive disease AND isolation of N. meningitidis from a normally sterile site or rash aspirate OR Gram negative diplococci in a normally sterile site |
| OR | Meningococcal DNA in a normally sterile site or rash aspirate |
| OR | Meningococcal antigen in blood, CSF or urine |
| OR | >4-fold rise in IgG antibody to C-polysaccharide |
| Probable case: | Final clinical diagnosis of meningitis or septicaemia or other invasive disease where meningococcal disease is considered the most likely diagnosis by the CCDC and the physician managing the case. |
Last Updated: 11/09/2006
© Copyright CDSC(NI) 2002