Emergence and spread of resistant N. meningitidis implicated in invasive meningococcal diseases during the past decade (2008-2017).

Abstract

Neisseria meningitidis is one of the most crucial causes of bacterial meningitis worldwide. The incidence of meningitis due to N. meningitidis greatly changes from one geographical area to the other: 500,000-1,200,000 invasive meningococcal diseases occur each year, with 50,000-135,000 deaths. Once the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is made, parenteral antibiotic treatment is started as soon as possible. A preventive treatment can also be proposed for those subjects at risk of exposure. Globally, resistance to antibiotics used in the treatment of prophylaxis of meningococcal disease is relatively rare. Penicillin is becoming less useful in the treatment of invasive meningococcal diseases because meningococcal isolates are increasingly less susceptible to this antibiotic. Meningococcal strains less susceptible to ceftriaxone or ciprofloxacin are rare. In addition, resistance to rifampicin is not a current concern as resistant isolates are rarely reported. In conclusion, the emergence of new meningococcal strains with decreasing susceptibility during the last decade should not be ignored, as this could be a worrying phenomenon in the future and justifies a judicious epidemiological survey on a continuous basis.