The worldwide prevention of meningococcal infection: still an elusive goal

It appears that worldwide elimination of meningococcal infections will take some time due to a variety of factors including the lack of an effective vaccine. Infection with the organism Neisseria meningitidis can kill a healthy adult within hours. Infection with the organism is the primary cause of bacterial meningitis and bacteremia in the United States. Though the incidence of meningococcal infections has declined in the U.S., the emergence of a newer, more virulent strain of group C meningococcus in Canada and the Atlantic region indicates that the organism has not been eradicated. Though group C infections are more common in North America, group A infections are more common in developing countries. Vaccines are not used routinely because they are ineffective in children and ineffective against group B infections. Until more effective vaccines are developed, meningococcal infections will continue to be a public health threat.