A European survey on public health policies for managing cases of meningococcal disease and their contacts

M Hoek; G Hanquet; S Heuberger; P Stefanoff; P Zucs; M Ramsay; J Stuart; European Union Invasive Bacterial Infections Surveillance Network (EU-IBIS)

doi:10.2807/ese.13.10.08060-en

A European survey on public health policies for managing cases of meningococcal disease and their contacts

Euro Surveill. 2008 Mar 6;13(10):8060. doi: 10.2807/ese.13.10.08060-en.

Authors

M Hoek¹, G Hanquet, S Heuberger, P Stefanoff, P Zucs, M Ramsay, J Stuart; European Union Invasive Bacterial Infections Surveillance Network (EU-IBIS)

Affiliation

¹ European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training, London, United Kingdom.

PMID: 18445439
DOI: 10.2807/ese.13.10.08060-en

Abstract

In 2007, a European survey was conducted to compare national policies on public health management of cases of meningococcal disease and their contacts. The results revealed differences in definitions of close contacts and prophylactic regimens between countries. These differences can be attributed to a lack of evidence on optimal prevention and treatment strategies. The development of guidance for best practice in priority areas, based on evidence or consensus, is therefore recommended.

MeSH terms

Contact Tracing / methods*
Contact Tracing / statistics & numerical data
Disease Notification / methods*
Disease Notification / statistics & numerical data
Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control*
Disease Outbreaks / statistics & numerical data
Europe / epidemiology
Health Care Surveys*
Health Policy*
Humans
Meningococcal Infections / diagnosis
Meningococcal Infections / epidemiology
Meningococcal Infections / prevention & control*
Population Surveillance / methods*