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Copyright of Epidemiological Review / Przegląd Epidemiologiczny is the property of National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Epidemiological Review / Przegląd Epidemiologiczny is the property of National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Epidemiological Review / Przegląd Epidemiologiczny is the property of National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Epidemiological Review / Przegląd Epidemiologiczny is the property of National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Monitoring of meningitis and/or encephalitis regardless of etiology is part of routine epidemiological surveillance in Poland. In this study, we discuss in detail meningitis and/or encephalitis in 2022 caused by Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and tick-borne encephalitis virus., Objective: The aim of this study was an epidemiological assessment of the occurrence of meningoencephalitis and encephalitis in Poland in 2022, taking into account the analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic., Material and Methods: To analyze the epidemiological situation of neuroinfections in Poland, we used data sent to NIPH NIH-NRI by the Sanitary and Epidemiological Stations and published in the annual bulletins: "Infectious Diseases and Poisons in Poland in 2022" and "Vaccinations in Poland in 2022" as well as individual epidemiological interviews registered in the EpiBase system., Results: In 2022, a total of 1747 cases of meningitis and/or encephalitis were registered in Poland. This was a 79.4% increase in the number of cases compared to 2021, when 974 cases were recorded. For infections of bacterial etiology, including cases of neuroborreliosis, the number of cases increased by 62.3% . The incidence of meningitis and/or encephalitis of N. meningitidis etiology meningitidis increased by 30.8%, with etiology of H. influenzae compared to 2021 increased by 300%, and for S. pneumoniae by 71.9%. Infections of viral etiology accounted for 52% of all registered cases. There was an increase in their number by 99.1% compared to 2021. Among viral infections, tick-borne encephalitis was the most numerous group, with 466 cases compared to 210 in 2021., Summary and Conclusions: The year 2022 showed an overall upward trend in the number of registered cases of bacterial and viral meningitis and/or encephalitis compared to 2021. Still, the observed number of cases of meningitis and/or encephalitis of both bacterial and viral origin remains below the levels observed in the period before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: In Poland, Lyme borreliosis (LB) has been subject to mandatory public health surveillance since 1996 and, in accordance with EU regulations, Lyme neuroborreliosis has been reported to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control since 2019. In this study, the incidence, temporal trends, and geographic distribution of LB and its manifestations in Poland are described for the period 2015-2019. Methods: This retrospective incidence study of LB and its manifestations in Poland was based on data sent to the National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene-National Research Institute (NIPH-NIH-NRI) by district sanitary epidemiological stations using the electronic Epidemiological Records Registration System and data from the National Database on Hospitalization. Incidence rates were calculated using population data from the Central Statistical Office. Results: During 2015-2019, Poland reported 94,715 cases of LB with an overall average incidence of 49.3 cases per 100,000 population. Cases increased from 2015 (11,945) to 2016 (20,857) and then remained stable through 2019. Hospitalization due to LB also rose during these years. LB was more common among women (55.7%). Erythema migrans and Lyme arthritis were the most common manifestations of LB. The highest incidence rates occurred among >50-year-olds, with a peak in 65-69-year-olds. The highest number of cases was recorded in the third and fourth quarters of the year (July-December). Incidence rates in the eastern and northeastern regions of the country were higher than the national average. Conclusions: LB is endemic in all regions of Poland, and many regions reported high incidence rates. Large variations in spatially granular incidence rates highlight the need for targeted prevention strategies.

Introduction: Meningitis and/or encephalitis are one of the main infectious diseases of the nervous system. These diseases are most commonly caused by bacterial and viral etiological factors. In this publication, meningitis and/or encephalitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and those with a viral origin - in Poland, most often caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus - are presented in detail. In addition to epidemiological surveillance, immunoprophylaxis in the form of mandatory and recommended vaccinations is used in Poland to prevent these infections., Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to to assess the epidemiological situation of meningitis and encephalitis in Poland, in 2020., Material and Methods: To analyse the epidemiological situation of neuroinfections in Poland were used data sent to NIPH NIH - NRI by Voivodeship Sanitary and Epidemiological Stations and published in the annual bulletins: "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland in 2020" and "Protective vaccination in Poland in 2020" and individual epidemiological interviews registered in the EpiBaza system., Results: In 2020, a total of 831 cases of meningitis and/or encephalitis were registered in Poland. This is a decrease in incidence of up to 62.9% compared to 2019. For infections of bacterial etiology, including cases of neuroborreliosis (incidence of 2.40 per 100,000), the number of cases decreased by 60.4% (from 931 to 369). In the viral infection group, there was a 64.9% decrease (from 1,318 to 462 cases). Of all registered cases, 56% were infections with a viral etiology. Compared to 2019, the number of cases with an S. pneumoniae etiology decreased by 61.3% and for N. meningitidis by 41.1%. It is interesting to note that, in the case of H. influenzae, we can speak of a 20% increase in cases compared to the previous year. In addition, we can see a decrease in the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis - from 265 in 2019 to 158 in 2020 (a decrease of 40.4%)., Summary and Conclusions: Overall, a downward trend in incidence was shown for both bacterial and viral meningitis and/or encephalitis. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the introduction of restrictions on personto-person contact and various forms of activity, resulting in a reduction in pathogen transmission, were key to the significant reduction in the number of meningitis and/or encephalitis cases in 2020, but a reduction in the availability of medical facilities or the completeness of case reports due to the burden of anti-epidemic measures on the Sanitary Inspectorate cannot be excluded either. Only in the case of cases caused by H. influenzae was a slight increase observed compared to the previous year (12 versus 10 cases). Meningoencephalitis and/or encephalitis, due to its wide etiological range, poses a major challenge to the health care system, particularly in terms of correct clinical diagnosis., (© National Institute of Public Health NIH – National Research Institute.)

Introduction: Lyme borreliosis, also known as Lyme disease, is a zoonotic disease transmitted by ticks. The infection occurs through a bite by a common tick (Ixodes ricinus). Due to the annual cycle of tick activity, mainly dependent on temperature, Lyme disease is seasonal. In certain cases, post-exposure prophylaxis may be indicated, while the vaccine is in phase III clinical trials., Aim of the Study: The aim of the study is to assess the epidemiological situation of Lyme disease in Poland in 2020 compared to the situation in previous years., Material and Methods: The epidemiological situation of Lyme disease in Poland was assessed on the basis of the data sent to NIPH NIH - NRI by voivodeship sanitary-epidemiological stations and published in the bulletin "Infectious diseases and poisoning in Poland in 2020"., Results: In 2020, 12,934 Lyme borreliosis cases and 459 hospitalizations were registered which, compared to 2019, means a 37.3% decrease in morbidity and a 73% decrease in hospitalization. It may be related to the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 virus at the end of 2019, which reached Poland at the beginning of March 2020. It can be seen that in Q2, due to the lower activity of people due to the epidemic, the number of cases of Lyme disease was less than in Q1 (2,064 in Q2 compared to 2,253 in Q1). The decrease compared to 2019 also continued in the third and fourth quarter, by 28% and 49%, respectively., Summary and Conclusion: The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak on the distribution of Lyme disease incidence is noticeable, in particular on the decrease in the overall number of cases during the year, as well as on hospitalization due to Lyme disease with the previously observed stabilization of the incidence. The pandemic could have influenced this state of affairs on various levels. The main reason was, of course, the introduction of the epidemic and the related restrictions (including reduced mobility), but it cannot be ruled out that the cause was not an excessive burden on the health care system and sanitary inspection (delay in registration of reports)., (© National Institute of Public Health NIH – National Research Institute.)

Introduction: Meningitis are the most common form of the nervous system infectious diseases. There are meningitis and/or encephalitis with bacterial and viral etiology. In epidemiological surveillance are highlighted meningitis and/or encephalitis caused by N. meningitidis, S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae and tick-borne encephalitis virus. Because vaccinations against these agents are common., Aim of the Study: The aim of the study is to assess the epidemiological situation of meningitis and encephalitis in Poland in 2017., Material and Methods: The epidemiological situation of meningitis and encephalitis in Poland was assessed on data from the annual bulletin “Infectious diseases and poisoning in Poland in 2017” and “Vaccinations in Poland in 2017”. (MP Czarkowski et al., Warsaw 2018, NIZP-PZH, GIS)., Results: In 2017 were registered 2 095 cases of meningitis and/or encephalitis in Poland. It means a 10.8% decrease in meningitis and/or encephalitis in Poland compared to 2016. With a general decrease in the number of infections of bacterial etiology, the number of cases of meningitis and/or encephalitis of S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae type B cases reported remains at the same level similar to last year. In contrast, the number of cases of etiology of N. meningitidis shows an increase of 25.4% compared to the previous year. Among all cases 57.9% were viral infections. In comparison to 2016 means a decrease in the percentage share of viral infections by 1.2 percentage points for bacterial infections. Among laboratory confirmed cases of neuroinfection with established etiology, the incidence caused by Neisseria miningitidis (122 cases), Streptococcus pneumoniae (171 cases) and tick-borne encephalitis (283 cases) are the most prevalent., Summary and Conclusion: There is a general downward trend in the number of meningitis and/or encephalitis cases, which may be due to introducing mandatory vaccination against S. pneumoniae. It can also mean an improvement in diagnostics given the decrease in unspecified meningitis and/or encephalitis. However meningitis and/or encephalitis remain a challenge for healthcare and epidemiological surveillance institutions., (© National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene)