Epidemiological burden of meningococcal disease in Latin America: A systematic literature review.

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological profile of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), meningococcal meningitis, and Neisseria meningitidis carriers in Latin America.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify and analyze studies published in 2008-2018. Incidence rates, case fatality rates (CFRs), and the relative distribution of cases per serogroup by country were assessed.

Results: Meningococcal surveillance in Latin America differs among countries, and most systems are based on passive sentinel surveillance. Thirty-nine studies were selected. In 2006, the incidence rate of IMD per 100 000 inhabitants was highest in Brazil (1.9), followed by Uruguay (1.3), Chile (0.8), Argentina (0.7), Colombia and Venezuela (0.3 each), and Mexico (0.06). Brazil reported the highest CFR (20%), followed by Uruguay (15%), Chile (11%), and Venezuela and Argentina (10% each). In 2012, the CFR in Chile increased to approximately 27%. The most frequent serogroups among IMD cases were C in Brazil (2007-2010) and Mexico (2005-2016), W in Chile (2012-2018), and B in Argentina (2012-2015). However, the true burden of IMD in Latin America is probably underestimated due to underreporting of cases.

Conclusions: Improvements in IMD notification, IMD registration, national surveillance programs (including active surveillance systems), diagnostic tools, and characterization of isolates may better elucidate the true epidemiological burden of IMD in Latin America.