Case-based surveillance of bacterial meningitis following MenAfrivac™ introduction at Sourô Sanou University Hospital, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, 2011-2021.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the distribution of Neisseria meningitidis serogroups in bacterial meningitis cases diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction at the Sourô Sanou University Hospital, Bobo-Dioulasso, from 2011 to 2021.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using retrospective data from cerebrospinal fluid samples collected in Bobo-Dioulasso and surrounding districts and analyzed at the National Reference Laboratory for bacterial meningitis.

RESULTS

Among 3823 suspected cases, 3341 samples underwent polymerase chain reaction, confirming 1186 cases (35.5%). The highest number of samples was recorded in 2012 (32.9%), mainly from Dafra district (20.2%). Streptococcus pneumoniae was the leading pathogen (51.9%), followed by N. meningitidis (46.1%) and Haemophilus influenzae type b (1.9%). Most N. meningitidis cases (69.5%) occurred in 2012, declining thereafter, with no cases by 2021. Serogroup W predominated (69.7%), while serogroups A and B were absent.

CONCLUSIONS

The results emphasize the need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance and adapt vaccination strategies to achieve meningitis elimination in Africa.