Characteristics of Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated in Romania between 1986 and 1989.

499 N. meningitidis strains were studied, 454 being isolated from CSF and blood and 45 from nasopharynx. Meningococcal serogroup A was prevalent in 1986-1988, having a decreasing tendency from 84.90% in 1987 to 45.0% in 1989. Serogroup C increased from 0.86% in 1986 to 15% in 1989. All strains, examined by diffusiometric method, were sensitive to ampicillin, cephalotin, chloramphenicol and rifampin. For tetracycline, resistance ranged from 2.28 to 6.0% in 1987-1989. The frequency of 52.0-72.14% resistant to sulphamides strains seems to be due to serogroup A prevalence. Six N. meningitidis strains, isolated in 1989, proved to be moderately resistant to penicillin with MIC greater than or equal to 0.1 mcg/ml. The results indicate the necessity of a continuous surveillance of meningococcal infection, both from the point of view of serogroup circulation and also of antibiotics sensitivity.