[Meningococcal infections: aspects of microbiology, epidemiology and prevention].

Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) is responsible for an average of 40% of all cases of bacterial meningitis in Germany. Cerebrospinal fluids, blood cultures, throat swabs and scratches, aspirations and biopsies of the skin rash are appropriate materials for the diagnosis of meningococcal disease. The materials should reach the laboratory without delay. Since 1993, the incidence of meningococcal disease in Germany is less than 1 case per 100,000 inhabitants. The case fatality rate is about 10%. Most cases of meningococcal disease occur in the first quarter of the year. Almost half of all invasive N. meningitidis isolates are from children under five years of age. In the period 1990-1998, in Germany an average of 74% of cases were caused by serogroup B and 21% by serogroup C. In serogroup B disease, isolates of serotype 15, in group C disease strains of serotype 2a are predominating. Chemoprophylaxis should be given to all household members and all contacts living in institutions with household-like character, contacts in institutions for children under six years of age and all persons who had contact with the oropharyngeal secretions of the patient. At present, only capsular polysaccharide vaccines against serogroups A, C, Y and W135 are available for immunoprophylaxis in Germany.