Obstetric and Neonatal Invasive Meningococcal Disease Caused by Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup W, Western Australia, Australia

Emerg Infect Dis. 2024 Feb;30(2):368-371. doi: 10.3201/eid3002.230639.

Abstract

Three mother-baby pairs with invasive meningococcal disease occurred over 7 months in Western Australia, Australia, at a time when serogroup W sequence type 11 clonal complex was the predominant local strain. One mother and 2 neonates died, highlighting the role of this strain as a cause of obstetric and early neonatal death.

Keywords: Australia; IMD; Neisseria meningitidis; Western Australia; bacteria; clonal complex; cluster; invasive meningococcal disease; neonatal; newborn; obstetric; perinatal death; pregnancy; pregnant women; sequence type 11; serogroup W.

MeSH terms

  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Meningococcal Infections* / epidemiology
  • Neisseria meningitidis* / genetics
  • Pregnancy
  • Serogroup
  • Western Australia / epidemiology