Laboratory confirmation of meningococcal disease in Scotland, 1993–9
- Scottish Meningococcus and Pneumococcus Reference Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, House on the Hill, Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow G21 3UW, UK
- Correspondence to: Dr S C Clarke, Scottish Meningococcus and Pneumococcus Reference Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, House on the Hill, Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow G21 3UW, UK; stuart.clarke{at}northglasgow.scot.nhs.uk
- Accepted 18 July 2001
Abstract
Aims: To describe the laboratory confirmation of meningococcal disease, using culture and non-culture based techniques, between 1993 and 1999 as part of a national service in Scotland.
Methods: Samples from patients with suspected meningococcal disease in Scotland were analysed by culture and non-culture based techniques to gain a laboratory confirmation of disease. Data were analysed to establish the number of disease cases, the serogroups of the organisms involved, and the importance of the techniques used.
Results: Between 1993 and 1999, there was a total of 1749 notified cases of meningococcal disease in Scotland. Culture based methods provided a laboratory confirmation of 788 cases whereas non-culture techniques confirmed 461 cases.
Conclusions: Non-culture techniques were a useful addition to culture based techniques in Scotland and improved the dataset required for public health management, disease surveillance, and vaccine policy.
- CSF, cerebrospinal fluid
- MenC, serogroup C meningococcal conjugate
- OMP, outer membrane protein
- PBS, phosphate buffered saline
- PCR, polymerase chain reaction
- SCIEH, Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health
- SMPRL, Scottish Meningococcus and Pneumococcus Reference Laboratory
