Meningococcal Infection: Prevalence, Diagnosis, Risk Factors and Vaccination

Running head: IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE
Immunization coverage
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IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE1
Meningococcal infection:
Meningococcal infection is a deadly bacterial infection induced by causative agent
Neisseria meningitis which triggers the inflammation of the membrane which covers the brain
and spinal cord. Australian bureau of statistics reported that each year more than 1000 people in
Australia experience the infection which includes septicemia and meningitis. Each year,
average 28 hospital admissions were reported in Australia due to the infection where the majority
of the infected patients were aged in-between 15–19 years (Www2.health.vic.gov.au 2019). The
prevalence of the disease is extremely high in the aboriginal population and population with
inadequate literacy of hygiene (Leung et al. 2019). Neisseria meningitidis (or meningococcus) is
a gram-negative diplococcus that can cause the infection. 13 serogroups of N. meningitidis, with
6 serogroups (A, B, C, W135, X and Y) has been observed, responsible for the majority of cases
of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) worldwide. However currently, Serogroup B is
responsible for most of the infection in Australia, with small numbers of cases due to serogroup
such as C, Y and W135 (Www2.health.vic.gov.au 2019). Hence, in order to reduce the high
prevalence of meningococcal infection, it is crucial develop meningococcal vaccination program
in Victoria which will improve the awareness amongst people and provide them
Prevalence of infection and diagnosis:
While the national incidence of invasive meningococcal disease in Australia has
decreased in 2003 to 2013, the rate of invasive infection has rapidly increased in 2017,
displaying highest rate of the infection amongst the territory such as New South Wales, northern
territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia
(Www1.health.gov.au 2019). Majority of the researchers suggested that the majority of the

IMMUNIZATION COVERAGE2
individuals in Australia are carrying Neisseria meningitis in their throat and nose (Lawrence et
al. 2016). Hull et al. (2017), reported that 20% of the infected patients tend to experience
lifelong disabilities such as loss of limb and gangrene and 10% of them experience death due to
septicemia (Www1.health.gov.au 2019). According to Australian government department of
health amongst aged 14–16 years school students in Australia have experienced meningitis
infection (Www1.health.gov.au 2019). According to Australia childhood immunization registry,
the immunization rate for bexosero in the territory is below 93, indicating the majority of the
children is deprived of the vaccination (Www2.health.vic.gov.au 2019). Hence, in order to
spread herd immunity, vaccination is required to provide, especially B meningococcal vaccine
(bexsero). The common diagnosis of the infection is collecting a sample from the sputum of the
infected person which will provide the idea. The general practitioner usually collects samples of
blood or cerebrospinal fluid to gather the understanding of the infection.
Risk factors and symptoms:
Mowlaboccus et al. (2017), suggested that the older teenagers aged in between 11 to 24
years are more prone to infection as they tend to carry the causative agents in their throats, nose.
Furthermore, the identified risk factors of the infection include smoking, kissing, infectious
individuals, throat discharge of the infected individuals who are carrying the bacteria. While
there are five different serotypes are a major cause of the infection, serotype B is highly
prevalent in the infected group. The identified symptoms of the infection include fever rashes in
the skin, confusion, severe throat infection, Severe, persistent headache, joint pain, discomfort,
and nausea (Marshall et al. 2016). In extreme cases, the identified systems include loss of limbs,
seizure, brain damage, paralysis, gangrene, or deafness and dysphonia (Lawrence et al. 2016).
However, because of high health care expenditure as well as the high cost of the vaccination, the