World Meningitis Day has been celebrated on October 5th since 2022 after the 27^th World Health Assembly approved the first resolution on meningitis prevention and control as well as the Defeating meningitis by 2030 global road map. Meningitis is caused by some viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Some meningitis can be caused by some medications and brain tumours.

The theme of this year’s World Meningitis Day is to “Light the road towards defeating meningitis and achieving the WHO’s goal of defeating meningitis by 2030.” Increased awareness of the signs and symptoms of meningitis by healthcare workers and caregivers is key towards early detection and treatment of the infection.

We at the ISID are in the forefront of the prevention and control of infectious diseases globally. We do recognize some countries and regions are disproportionately impacted by infectious diseases including meningitis, particularly those caused by bacteria. Our educational resources strive to provide up-to-date best practices for infectious disease professionals not only in low-resource settings but globally as well.

ISID Resources on Meningitis

Case-fatality and sequelae following acute bacterial meningitis in South Africa, 2016 through 2020

Susan Meiring, Cheryl Cohen, Linda de Gouveia, Mignon du Plessis, Vanessa Quan, Jackie Kleynhans et al. Case-fatality and sequelae following acute bacterial meningitis in South Africa, 2016 through 2020. International Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol. 122p1056–1066 Published online: August 4, 2022.

Aetiology of bacterial meningitis in infants aged <90 days: Prospective surveillance in Luanda, Angola

Tuula Pelkonen, Suvi Urtti, Elizabete dos Anjos, Ondina Cardoso, Linda de Gouveia, Irmeli Roine et al. Aetiology of bacterial meningitis in infants aged <90 days: Prospective surveillance in Luanda, Angola. International Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol. 97 p251–257 Published online: June 10, 2020.

Epidemiology and Trends of Infective Meningitis in Neonates and Infants Less than 3 Months Old in Hong Kong

Chi Hang Wong, Jaime Rosa Duque, Joshua Sung Chih Wong, Chi-man Victor Chan, Cheuk San Ivan Lam, Yu Ming Fu et al. Epidemiology and Trends of Infective Meningitis in Neonates and Infants Less than 3 Months Old in Hong Kong. International Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol. 111 p288–294 Published online: July 1, 2021.

Defeating Meningitis by 2030: the Need for Global Invasive Meningococcal Disease Surveillance and Prevention (CME Accreditation Activity)

Meningococcal meningitis is a devastating disease with high mortality and long-term sequelae even in successfully managed cases. Although the burden of disease is greatest in the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa, meningitis is a world-wide threat. Recent epidemics in Liberia, Nigeria, Togo, Niger, Guinea, Kyrgyzstan, Fiji and Chile and the spread of some virulent strains across the world has emphasized the need for a global approach to surveillance and prevention.

In this session, experts will discuss the urgent need for improved monitoring of invasive meningococcal disease and sequelae globally, will discuss the use of whole genome sequencing, strain typing and rapid diagnostics to better understand outbreak epidemiology and burden of disease and will provide updates on the emergence of new clones and hypervirulent strains. They will review WHO’s recently released Defeating Meningitis by 2030 Global Roadmap and what it will take to make vaccines widely available in low- and middle-income countries.

The clinical presentations of meningococcal disease can vary. Recent observations suggest that certain serogroups may present with atypical signs and symptoms such as acute gastrointestinal symptoms, septic arthritis, bacteremic pneumonia or severe upper respiratory infection. Experts will discuss atypical clinical presentations which can be associated with higher case fatality rates and misdiagnoses. The immediate and longer-term impact of COVID-19 on meningococcal disease and meningococcal vaccine schedules is currently unclear and needs to be determined.

Speakers:
• Brenda Kwambana-Adams
            • Equitable and Sustainable Access to Vaccines
• Marco Safadi
            • Atypical Presentation and the Impact of COVID-19

Chair: Rob Heyderman
Co-Chair: Christina Obiero

This webinar is supported by an educational grant from Sanofi.