Meningococcal Disease in Portugal: Resistance to Penicillin
Author Information
Author(s): Caniça Manuela, Dias Ricardo, Ferreira Eugénia
Primary Institution: National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge
Hypothesis
What are the serogroups, serotypes, and penicillin susceptibility of Neisseria meningitidis in Portugal?
Conclusion
The study found that serogroups B and C are the most common in Portugal, with a significant percentage of C:2b:P1.2,5 strains showing intermediate resistance to penicillin.
Supporting Evidence
- Serogroups B and C represent approximately 95% of invasive meningococcal disease cases in Europe.
- 27 hospitals participated in the study, covering a large portion of the Portuguese population.
- 75.9% of C:2b:P1.2,5 strains showed intermediate resistance to penicillin.
Takeaway
This study looked at bacteria that cause meningitis in Portugal and found that many of them are becoming harder to treat with penicillin.
Methodology
Laboratory-based surveillance study evaluating serogroups, serotypes, and penicillin susceptibility of meningococci from patients over one year.
Limitations
The study may not represent all regions of Portugal as it was conducted in 27 hospitals.
Participant Demographics
The study included isolates from patients in various regions of Portugal, covering approximately 71% of the population.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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