1932

Abstract

The United States currently has relatively low rates of meningococcal disease caused by . Serogroups Y, C, and B are most common. Although most cases are sporadic, a minority are associated with outbreaks. Pediatric populations have disproportionately higher rates of disease, but nearly two thirds of all cases occur in persons aged 15 years and older. The major challenge to control of domestic meningococcal disease is the absence of a vaccine to prevent sporadic cases spanning many age groups. The quadrivalent A/C/Y/W-135 meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine is licensed in the United States, but because of its limited efficacy in children under two years of age, it is recommended for high-risk groups and outbreak response rather than routine childhood immunization. New conjugate meningococcal vaccines have successfully reduced endemic disease in the United Kingdom, and similar vaccines promise to have a dramatic impact on the burden of meningococcal disease in the United States.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.med.55.091902.103612
2004-02-18
2024-10-13
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.med.55.091902.103612
Loading
/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.med.55.091902.103612
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Review Article
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error