Group A streptococcal meningitis: emm type distribution and theoretical vaccine coverage in children

Abstract

As group A Streptococcus (GAS) meningitis is seldom reported in children, emm-type distribution data are scare. We report eight cases of GAS meningitis in Belgium (2008–2013) and compare molecular characteristics of our strains with a further 55 cases previously reported with their corresponding emm-types. emm1 type was the most frequent (24%) followed by emm6 (11%), emm12 (11%) and emm3 (6%). Together these four emm-types accounted for 52% of the cases, while the rest of the cases are due to 24 different emm-types. These 28 emm-types associated with GAS meningitis belonged to 16 different emm-clusters suggesting that there is no propensity for particular emm-types or emm-cluster to cause meningitis. Theoretical coverage of the 30-valent vaccine candidate would be 77.8% (49/63 isolates) among children with GAS meningitis.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful the following paediatricians and microbiologists: C. Algoet and R. Naesens (AZ St Elisabeth, Herentals), J. Cadrobbi (Clinique et Maternité St Elisabeth, Namur), O. Chatzis, D. Van der Linden and A. Verroken (Cliniques Universitaires St Luc, Bruxelles), I. De Schutter and D. Piérard (Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel), C. Potvlieghe and B. Topak (CHU Tivoli, La Louvière), A. VanderAuwera and K. Vanrykel (Sint Augustinus, Wilrijk), J. Vanschaeren (Klinisch Laboratorium GZA, Antwerpen).