Extended vaccination recommendation against meningococci

Vaccination recommendation extended by the Berlin Advisory Council for deaths caused by meningococci

19/07/2013

The Berlin Impfbeirat has expanded the public vaccination recommendation in view of an increasing number of meningococcal diseases for the state of Berlin. According to this, especially men who have sexual intercourse with men should be vaccinated against the bacteria. Meningococci can cause dangerous infectious diseases that have already claimed three lives in Berlin this year. Meningococcal infections are also becoming more common in New York and Paris. The new regulation of the Berliner Impfbeirat will presumably come into effect on July 27, 2013.

Meningococcal vaccination is useful for all men who have sexual intercourse with men
As reported by the Berlin Senate Department for Health and Social Affairs, meningococcal diseases are increasingly spreading in the capital. Especially affected are men who have sex with men (MSM). This year, 18 individuals have been infected with the pathogens, seven of which have been found to be particularly dangerous, subgroup C. Of these three patients died and one permanently ill. According to the Berlin Senate Administration, these four victims belong to the group of MSM. Other outbreaks of males have also occurred in New York and Paris.

In order to prevent a further outbreak of meningococcal disease, let in particular men who belong to the group of MSM, get vaccinated. The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has recommended all children up to the age of 18 years a single vaccination against group C meningococci. Among adults, according to STIKO, people with immunodeficiencies such as people with HIV and travelers should into certain countries against the pathogens. There is no special vaccination recommendation for men of the STIKO so far. Due to the increasing spread of meningococcal disease, the state of Berlin last Wednesday issued a recommendation for vaccination for MSM. The vaccines used for this purpose should contain a component against group C meningococci. Such a vaccine is generally very well tolerated, informs the Berlin Senate Administration.

The vaccination recommendation will provisionally apply until 31 January 2014 and will be reviewed for effectiveness. The state of Berlin also advocates the creation of a nationwide regulation for vaccination protection for MSM by the STIKO.

Meningococci can cause severe infections
Meningococci are bacteria that colonize the nasopharynx of humans. The transmission of the pathogens takes place by droplet infection, for example by coughing, sneezing or kissing. With the help of small processes, the bacteria are able to attach to the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx for weeks or months. Especially when the immune system is weakened, the meningococci multiply and penetrate the mucous membranes. In about two-thirds of the ill patients, the infection leads to meningitis and in one-third to a life-threatening blood poisoning (sepsis).

The incubation period is usually two to four days. The spectrum of illnesses ranges from mild infections with few symptoms to death, which can occur within a few hours. Patients suffering from meningitis complain of a severe malady with fatigue, chills, high fever, vomiting, joint and muscle pain, convulsions or impaired consciousness. The typical symptoms include neck stiffness (she stiff neck), through which the sufferers begin to drill their head in the strong hollow cross in the pillow.

A life-threatening course of the disease is indicated, among other things, by clouding of consciousness, punctiform haemorrhages and circulatory collapse. When the bacteria enter the bloodstream and flood the body with their toxins, life-threatening sepsis develops, requiring immediate in-patient treatment.

Decisive for the chances of survival is a therapy with antibiotics as early as possible. For the prevention of meningococcal infection only one vaccine helps. Ten to 20 percent of sufferers suffer permanent damage from the disease. About ten percent of patients with group C meningococci die from the infection.

Experts believe that ten percent of the population carries the bacteria in it, without getting infected. Under MSM, it should even be 40 percent, so that this group is very likely to have a significantly increased risk of disease. (Ag)

Also read about meningococci:
Slack baby may indicate meningitis

Picture credits: Thomas Siepmann