Meningitis
Bacterial meningitis is one of the most feared infectious diseases of children and epidemic meningitis can have a devastating impact on entire populations. Until recently, antibiotic treatment of cases, and, in some situations, chemoprophylaxis of contacts, was the only means of control. Now, however, vaccines are available for prevention of the major causes of bacterial meningitis - Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp or pneumococcus), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and Neisseria meningitidis (Nm or meningococcus). Hib and the pneumococcus are also the most common causes of severe bacterial pneumonia, a leading cause of death in young children in the developing world. Surveillance, including the laboratory investigation of suspected cases, is critical for the early detection of epidemics and formulating an appropriate response, clarifying the burden of disease and evaluating the impact of immunization services (see also the section: Principal uses of data for decision-making). Routine bacterial meningitis surveillance focuses on meningitis and other "invasive" infections such as sepsis, which can be diagnosed with microbiological tests on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood.
