Improving Case-Based Meningitis Surveillance in 5 Countries in the Meningitis Belt of Sub-Saharan Africa, 2015–2017. (31st October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mbaeyi, Sarah A; Lingani, Clement; Diallo, Alpha Oumar; Bicaba, Brice; Ouédraogo-Traoré, Rasmata; Acyl, Mahamat; Gamougame, Kadidja; Coulibaly, Oumou; Coulibaly, Souleymane; Zaneidou, Maman; Sidikou, Fati; Nikiema, Christelle; Sadji, Adodo Yao; Aké, Flavien; Tarbangdo, Félix; Sakande, Souleymane; Tall, Haoua; Njanpop-Lafourcade, Berthe-Marie; Moïsi, Jennifer; N'diaye, Aboubacar; Bwaka, Ado; Bita, Andre; Fernandez, Katya; Poy, Alain; Soeters, Heidi M; Vuong, Jeni; Novak, Ryan; Ronveaux, Olivier
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 220(2019)Supplement 4
• Page Start: S155
• Page End: S164
• Publication Date: 2019-10-31
• Subjects: Africa -- bacterial -- public health surveillance -- meningitis; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz303
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The MenAfriNet consortium was established in 2014 to support implementation of case-based meningitis surveillance in 5 countries in the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger, and Togo. Assessing surveillance performance is critical for interpretation of the collected data and implementation of future surveillance-strengthening initiatives. Methods: Detailed epidemiologic and laboratory data were collected on suspected meningitis cases through case-based meningitis surveillance in participating districts in 5 countries. Performance of case-based surveillance was evaluated through sensitivity of case ascertainment in case-based versus aggregate meningitis surveillance and an analysis of surveillance indicators. Results: From 2015 to 2017, 18 262 suspected meningitis cases were identified through case-based surveillance and 16 262 were identified through aggregate surveillance, for a case ascertainment sensitivity of 112.3%. Among suspected cases, 16 885 (92.5%) had a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimen collected, 13 625 (80.7%) of which were received at a national reference laboratory. Among these, 13 439 (98.6%) underwent confirmatory testing, and, of those tested, 4371 (32.5%) were confirmed for a bacterial pathogen. Conclusions: Overall strong performance for case ascertainment, CSF collection, and laboratory confirmation provide evidence for the quality of MenAfriNet case-based surveillance in evaluating epidemiologic trends and informing future vaccination strategies.