Caracterización de Neisseria meningitidis aislada de infecciones sistémicas: Chile, 1992-1993 / Characterization of neisseria meningitidis isolated of systemic infections: Chile, 1992-1993

RESUMEN

Background: in Chile, all systemic infections caused by Neisseria meningitidis must be reported and the bacterial strain must be sent to a reference laboratory at the Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile (ISP). Aim: to report the characterization of strains of Neisseria meningitidis isolated during systemic infections in Chile during the years 1992 and 1993. Methods: the serogroup, serotype, subtype and antimicrobial susceptibility of every starin of Neisseria meningitidis received at the ISP during 1992 and 1993 was studied. Resuts 628 strains of Neisseria meningitidis were confirmed during 1992 and 1993. B serogroup was responsible of 91.1 per cent and 94.4 per cent of confirmed cases during 1992 and 1993 respectively. Serotypes and subtypes most frequently associated to B serogroup were B. 15 P1.3 (63.2 per cent in 1992 and 51.8 per cent in 1993) and BNTP1.3 (11.7 per cent in 1992 and 21.3 per cent in 1993). In 1992, all strains were susceptible to penicillin, chloramphenicol, cetriaxone and rifampicin. During 1993, 7 (2 per cent) strains were found, for the first time in Chile, moderately susceptible to penicillin and rifampicin MIC increased fourfold in respect of 1992, although all strains continued to be susceptible to this will demand the use of molecular biology techniques for their identification