Neisseria meningitidis Strains Isolated from Invasive Infections in France (1999–2002): Phenotypes and Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 37; no. 7; pp. 912 - 920
• Main Authors: Antignac, Aude, Ducos-Galand, Magaly, Guiyoule, Annie, Pirès, René, Alonso, Jean-Michel, Taha, Muhamed-Kheir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.10.2003; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Alleles; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the nervous system. Bacterial myositis; Biological and medical sciences; Chemoprevention; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; France; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Major Articles; Medical sciences; Meningitis, Meningococcal; Meningococcal infections; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Neisseria meningitidis; Neisseria meningitidis - drug effects; Neisseria meningitidis - genetics; Penicillin; Penicillin G - pharmacology; Penicillin Resistance - genetics; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phenotype; Phenotypes; Serotyping; Sulfonamides; Surveillance; France; Europe; Paris; Ile-de-France; Chemoprophylaxis; Prevalence; Drug susceptibility test; Neisseriaceae; Serogroup; Neisseria meningitidis; Epidemiology; Infection; Prevention; Penicillin derivatives; Heterogeneity; Phenotype; Treatment; Surveillance; Medical prescription; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Antibacterial agent; Clinical isolate; Meningococcal disease
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1086/377739

Infections due to Neisseria meningitidis are a major public health concern. In France, during 1999-2002, a total of 2167 clinical isolates of N. meningitidis from invasive infections were studied at the National Reference Center for Meningococci (Paris). Serogroup B strains were the most common (58%), followed by serogroup C strains (29%) and serogroup W135 strains (8%). Various phenotypes were observed, reflecting heterogeneity in the meningococcal population. Strains were susceptible to antibiotics currently used for treatment and chemoprophylaxis of meningococcal infections. However, the prevalence of meningococci with reduced susceptibility to penicillin is increasing. Such strains were heterogeneous and accounted for ∼30% of isolates during this period, warranting continued surveillance of this phenomenon.