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Overview

Generalities
Agents Several agents:
 
1) Bacteria:
- Neisseria meningitides (meningococcus): the serotypes responsible of invasive infection are A, B, C, W135, Y, X
- Haemophilus influenza: there are 6 serotypes from (a) to (f). The serotype (b) is responsible of invasive infection
- Streptococcus pneumonia (pneumococcus): there are more than 90 serotypes
- Other bacterial agents: listeria, staphylococcus, enteric bacteria, group B streptococci, tuberculosis …
 
2) Virus:
- Mumps
- Measles
- West Nile virus: a flavivirus
- Enterovirus: including Coxsackieviruses A (1-11, 14, 16-18, 22, 24), Coxsackieviruses B (1-6), Echoviruses (1-7, 9-23, 25, 27, 30-33), Enterovirus 71, Poliovirus (1-3)
- Herpes Simplex virus: with 2 types 1 and 2
- Varicella / Chicken-pox: Human (alpha) herpesvirus 3 (varicella-zoster) from the group Herpesvirus
- Adenovirus: Adenovirus, several types (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7), genus Mastadenovirus, family Adenoviridae,
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis: lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (arenavirus)
- Sandfly fever viruses: genus phlebovirus, family Bunyaviridae. They include more than 60 antigenically distinct virus serotypes. Two main groups are identified: the sandfly fever group including the Naples serocomplex (Karimabad virus, Arabia virus, Massilia virus, Punique virus, Tehran virus, Toscana virus …) and Sicilian serocomplex; and the Uukuniemi group.
-Other virus: arboviruses…
 
3) Parasites and fungi:
- Leptospirosis: Spirochetes, Leptospira interrogans  (25 serogroups)
- Other:  Candida albicans, cryptococcal, syphilis …
Incubation The incubation varies with the agent.
 
Agent Incubation
Bacteria  
Neisseria meningitidis 3-4 days (2-10 days)
Haemophilus influenza 2-4 days
Streptococcus pneumoniae 1-4 days
Listeria monocytogenes 3-70 days (median of 3 weeks)
Virus  
West Nile virus 3-12 days
Enterovirus 7-14 days (2-35 days)
Herpes 2-12 days
Varicella / Chicken-pox 2-3 weeks
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus 8-13 days (15-21 days for meningitis)
Adenovirus 1-10 days
Sandfly fever viruses 3-4 days (up to 6 days)
Parasites and Mycoses  
Leptospira 2-30 days (10 days)
 
 
 
Period of communicability The period of communicability varies with the agent.
 
Agent Period of communicability
Bacteria  
Neisseria meningitidis From onset and up to 24 hours after starting antibiotherapy that has effective concentrations in nasopharynx.
Haemophilus influenza From onset and up to 24-48 hours of starting effective antibiotherapy.
Streptococcus pneumoniae As long as the bacteria is present in the upper respiratory tract.
Listeria monocytogenes - Mothers of infected newborns can shed the bacteria in vaginal discharges and urine 7-0 days after delivery
- Infected patients can shed the bacteria in stool for several months
Virus  
West Nile virus No person-to-person transmission.
Enterovirus - Virus excreted in stools for several weeks
- Virus excreted in pharynx for the first 2 weeks post infection
Herpes 2-7 weeks after skin lesions onset.
Varicella / Chicken-pox 2 days before until the skin lesions are crusted (5 days).
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus No person to person transmission.
Adenovirus Shortly prior to and for the duration of the active disease
Sandfly fever viruses Virus present in blood of infected patients 1 day before and 1 day after onset of illness.
Parasites and Mycoses  
Leptospira Excreted in urine for 1 month
 
 
Reservoir The reservoir varies with the agent.
 
Agent Reservoir
Bacteria  
Neisseria meningitidis Humans
Haemophilus influenza Humans
Streptococcus pneumoniae Humans, possible carriage.
Listeria monocytogenes Soil, forage, water, mud and silage.
Virus  
West Nile virus Birds
Enterovirus Humans
Herpes Humans
Varicella / Chicken-pox Humans
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus House mouse (Mus musculus), hamster colonies. The mouse excretes the virus in saliva, feces and urine.
Adenovirus Humans
Sandfly fever viruses Humans, rodents.
Parasites and Mycoses  
Leptospira Wild and domestic animals
 
 
Modes of transmission The modes of transmission vary with the agent.
 
Agent Modes of transmission
Bacteria  
Neisseria meningitidis Person to person transmission: direct contact with droplet, nasal and throat discharge
Haemophilus influenza Person to person transmission: direct contact with respiratory, nasal and throat discharge.
Streptococcus pneumoniae Person to person transmission: direct contact with respiratory discharge
Listeria monocytogenes - Food-borne: ingestion of raw or contaminated milk, soft cheese vegetables and ready-to-eat meats (Pate)
- Direct contact with infectious material
- Neonatal: from mother to fetus or from mother to newborn (through the infected birth canal)
- Nosocomial transmission in nursery: via contaminated equipment or material
Virus  
West Nile virus Bite by infected mosquitoes (Culex sp, or Anophele sp)
Enterovirus - Person-to-person:
- Fecal-oral
- Contact with respiratory secretions
- Contact with conjunctival secretions
- Contaminated water / swimming pools
- Flies
Herpes - Person-to-person:
- Contact with saliva
- Sexual contact
- Soiled hands
- Neonatal (infected birth canal)
Varicella / Chicken-pox - Person-to-person:
- Contact with droplets
- Contact with vesicle fluid
- Indirect contact
- Airborne
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus - Airborne: contaminated dust
- Food-borne: ingestion of contaminated food
- Direct contact: skin contamination or cuts
Adenovirus - Person-to-person:
- Fecal-oral route
- Respiratory transmission
- Inoculation with conjunctival secretions
- Nosocomial
- Contaminated water and swimming pools
Sandfly fever viruses Bite of infective phlebotomine (Phlebotomus papatasi, P. perfiliewi , P. perniciosus, P. major sensu lato )
Parasites and Mycoses  
Leptospira - Contact with abraded skin or mucous membranes with soil, vegetation, contaminated with urine of infected animals or contaminated water
- Direct contact with urine or tissues of infected animals
- Ingestion of food or water contaminated with urine of infected animals
 
 
Clinical The symptoms vary with the agent.
 
Agent Clinical picture
Bacteria  
Neisseria meningitidis Meningitis, septicaemia
Haemophilus influenza Meningitis, epiglottitis, pneumonia …
Streptococcus pneumoniae Meningitis, pneumonia, septicaemia
Listeria monocytogenes  
Virus  
West Nile virus - Usually asymptomatic.
- Complication: meningitis and encephalitis
Enterovirus - Asymptomatic,
- Gastro-enteritis, flu-like illness, aseptic meningitis, paralysis
Herpes - Gingivostomatitis (type1), genital infection (type 2)
- Complications: meningoencephalitis
- Reactivation is possible
Varicella / Chicken-pox - Skin eruption: first maculo-papular then vesicular.
- Complications: pneumonia, hemorrhage, meningoencephalitis
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus - Influenza-like illness.
- Complications: meningitis, parotiditis, arthritis, myocarditis…
Adenovirus - Epidemic herato-conjunctivitis, gastro-enteritis, pharyngo-conjunctival fever, acute respiratory infection
- Complications: meningoencephalitis
Sandfly fever viruses - Usually self-limited disease: fever, myalgia, headache, photophobia …
- Complications: Aseptic meningitis and meningoencephalitis (Toscana),
Parasites and Mycoses  
Leptospira Rash, hemolytic anemia, hemorrhage, hepato-renal failure, mental confusion, myocarditis…
 
 
Worldwide  
Agent Profil
Bacteria  
Neisseria meningitidis Endemic in the African meninigitis belt (from Senegal to Ethiopa)
Haemophilus influenza Worldwide under 5 years
Streptococcus pneumoniae Worldwide
Listeria monocytogenes Worldwide
Virus  
West Nile virus Widespread in Africa, Middle East, North America, India.
 
Enterovirus Worldwide
Herpes Worldwide
Varicella / Chicken-pox Worldwide
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus America, Europe.
Adenovirus Worldwide
Sandfly fever viruses In Mediterranean counties, Europe and Middle East
Parasites and Mycoses  
Leptospirose Worldwide
 
 
Lebanon The annual average of reported cases of meningitis is 192.
Among them, meningitis due to Neisseria meningitis occurs with 6 (2-12) cases per year.
Among them, meningitis due to Haemophilus influenza occurs with 1 (0-2) cases per year.
Among them, meningitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae occurs with 19 (16-21) cases per year.
 
Control objective Control
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ATC Name B/G Ingredients Dosage Form Price
N03AX14 ZITERA G Levetiracetam - 500mg 500mg Tablet, film coated 2,203,902 L.L
M01AE02 NOPAIN DS G Naproxen (sodium) - 500mg 500mg Tablet, film coated 235,172 L.L
G01AF02 CANAGYN G Clotrimazole - 500mg 500mg Tablet 302,365 L.L
J01XA01 VANCOMYCIN HIKMA G Vancomycin (HCl) - 500mg 500mg Injectable powder for solution 998,475 L.L
G01AF02 MICOTER GYNO OVULE G Clotrimazole - 500mg 500mg Pessary 447,948 L.L
J01XA01 VANCOMYCINE VIATRIS 500MG G Vancomycin - 500mg 500mg Injectable dry powder for solution 885,115 L.L
J01XA01 VANCOTEN G Vancomycin (HCl) - 500mg 500mg Injectable powder for solution 537,537 L.L
M01AE02 ANODYNE 500 G Naproxen - 500mg 500mg Suppository 342,680 L.L
J01XA01 VOXIN G Vancomycin (HCl) - 500mg 500mg Injectable powder for solution 546,944 L.L
D01BA01 GRISEOFULVIN G Griseofulvin - 500mg 500mg Tablet, scored 575,933 L.L
J01DD04 AXONE 500MG IM G Ceftriaxone (sodium) - 500mg 500mg Injectable powder for solution+diluent 393,746 L.L
L01BA01 METHOTREXAT EBEWE G Methotrexate - 500mg 500mg Injectable solution 1,842,408 L.L
J01XD02 PROTOGYN G Tinidazole - 500mg 500mg Tablet, film coated 217,702 L.L
L01BA04 ALIMTA B Pemetrexed (disodium) - 500mg 500mg Injectable concentrated powder for solution 78,132,798 L.L
L01BA04 PEMETREXED ACCORD G Pemetrexed (disodium) - 500mg 500mg Injectable powder for concentrate for solution 20,000,292 L.L
L01BA04 PEMETREXED GP PHARM G Pemetrexed (disodium) - 500mg 500mg Injectable lyophilised powder 46,641,484 L.L
L01BA04 PEMETREXED SPC G Pemetrexed (disodium) - 500mg 500mg Injectable concentrated powder for solution 43,746,515 L.L
N02BE01 EFFERALGAN B Paracetamol - 500mg 500mg Tablet, effervescent scored 129,009 L.L
M01AG01 PONSTAN FORTE B Mefenamic acid - 500mg 500mg Tablet, film coated 219,046 L.L
N02BE01 PANADOL ACTIFAST B Paracetamol - 500mg 500mg Tablet, film coated 159,917 L.L
L01BA04 PEMITRA G Pemetrexed (disodium) - 500mg 500mg Injectable powder for concentrate for solution 47,161,032 L.L
M01AG01 PANGESIC FORTE G Mefenamic acid - 500mg 500mg Tablet, film coated 327,898 L.L
N02BE01 DOLIPRANE B Paracetamol - 500mg 500mg Tablet 120,946 L.L
L01BA04 SUKUBA G Pemetrexed (disodium) - 500mg 500mg Injectable lyophilised powder 34,786,563 L.L
N02BE01 DOLIPRANE B Paracetamol - 500mg 500mg Tablet 120,946 L.L
N02BE01 PANADOL ADVANCE B Paracetamol - 500mg 500mg Tablet, film coated 438,093 L.L
N02BE01 PANADOL ADVANCE B Paracetamol - 500mg 500mg Tablet, film coated 137,072 L.L
N02BE01 PANADOL ADVANCE B Paracetamol - 500mg 500mg Tablet, film coated 389,714 L.L
N02BE01 ADOL G Paracetamol - 500mg 500mg Caplet 81,974 L.L
N02BE01 DOLOPAN G Paracetamol - 500mg 500mg Tablet, film coated 135,664 L.L
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