Aislamiento de cepas invasivas de Neisseria meningitidis serogrupos B y Y en la ciudad de Cumaná, años 2009-2010 / Isolation of invasive strains of neisseria meningitides, serogroups B and Y, in Cumana, 2009-2010

Neisseria meningitidis es agente causal de meningitis y meningococcemia. Se realizó la presente investigación a fin de analizar fenotípicamente las cepas invasivas de N. meningitidis aisladas en Cumaná, estado Sucre. Se incluyó el total de cepas identificadas como N. meningitidis en el laboratorio de bacteriología del Hospital Universitario “Antonio Patricio de Alcalá”, durante los años 2009-2010; provenientes de muestras de líquido cefalorraquídeo (LCR) y sangre (hemocultivos). A cada aislamiento se le determinó la susceptibilidad antimicrobiana y el serogrupo respectivo. Durante el período en estudio se analizaron 10 cepas, de las cuales 5 provenían de LCR. El ensayo de susceptibilidad antimicrobiana reveló que las cepas presentaban sensibilidad a penicilina, cefotaxima, meropenem, rifampicina, ciprofloxacina y cloranfenicol siendo sólo resistentes al trimetoprim/ sulfametoxazol. El serogrupo más frecuente fue el B (8 cepas), aislándose un caso de serogrupo Y. Respecto al grupo etario de los pacientes, de las 10 cepas, 8 provenían de pacientes pediátricos. Este es el primer estudio con cepas de N. meningitidis aisladas en Cumaná, por lo que se hace imprescindible el análisis permanente de las cepas aisladas en la zona, con fines de monitoreo, principalmente, de la susceptibilidad antimicrobiana y los serogrupos circulantes.

Neisseria meningitidis is the causal agent for meningitis and meningococcemia. This research was performed to phenotypically analyze invasive strains of N. meningitidis isolated in Cumana, State of Sucre. The study included all strains identified as N. meningitidis isolated in the bacteriology laboratory at the University Hospital “Antonio Patricio de Alcalá,” during the years 2009-2010, coming from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples and blood cultures. For each isolate, the antimicrobial susceptibility and respective serogroup were determined. During the period of study, 10 strains were analyzed, of which 5 came from CSF. The antimicrobial susceptibility test revealed that the strains showed sensitivity to penicillin, cefotaxime, meropenem, rifampicin, ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol; they were resistant only to trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole. Serogroup B was the most frequent (8 strains); one case of serogroup Y was isolated. Regarding the patient’s ages, of the 10 strains, 8 were found in pediatric patients. This is the first study about strains of N. meningitidis isolated in Cumaná, so it is essential that permanent research regarding the strains isolated in the area is carried out for monitoring purposes, mainly in terms of antimicrobial susceptibility and the circulating serogroups.

Meningococcal Disease in the Republic of Korea Army: Incidence and Serogroups Determined by PCR

This study was performed to determine the incidence and serogroups of meningococcal disease in the Korean Army. From August 2000 to July 2001, we identified prospective cases in the Korean Army. Meningococcal disease was confirmed by isolation of Neisseria meningitidis or detection of its antigen by latex agglutination from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or blood. Polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) were performed in the crgA gene to identify N. meningitidis regardless of its serogroup, and then in orf-2 (serogroup A) and siaD (serogroups B, C, Y, and W135) respectively for serogroup prediction. During the study period, twelve patients (four meningitis and eight septicaemia) were identified. The annual incidence was 2.2 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval, 1.3-3.8) among 550,000 private soldiers. Latex agglutinations were positive to A/C/Y/W135 polyvalent latex, but not to B latex in all patients. PCRs of crgA gene were positive in ten patients, whose samples (2 isolates from CSF, 2 CSFs, and 6 sera) were stored. In PCRs for serogroup prediction, one isolate was serogroup A, and one isolate and two sera were serogroup C. The need for meningococcal vaccination would be considered in the Korean Army through the cost-benefit analysis based on the result of this study.