Projekt

The "meningitis belt" of sub-Saharan Africa records the highest incidence of meningococcal meningitis in the world. The disease occurs in epidemic cycles with devastating consequences. The mechanisms leading to the spread of clonal complexes of Neisseria meningitidis and to epidemics of disease are still unclear. Since colonization is the entry point to meningococcal meningitis the proposed study focuses on systematic long-term analysis of the relationship between meningococcal colonization and disease. The basic design is to analyze in two districts (one in Ghana and one in Burkina Faso) of the African meningitis belt (1) the dynamics of meningococcal nasopharyngeal colonization, (2) the cerebrospinal fluids of all suspected meningitis patients attending the district health services and (3) the clinical pattern of disease. The expected outcomes of the study are (1) improved prediction and control of epidemics of bacterial meningitis, (2) improved management of patients with bacterial meningitis, (3) improved understanding of the dynamics of colonization and disease and (4) clarification of features relevant for the development of improved vaccines.

• PD Dr. Thomas Junghanss

  Universität Heidelberg
  Universitätsklinikum
  Abteilung für Tropenhygiene und Öffentliches
  Gesundheitswesen
  Sektion Klinische Tropenmedizin
  Heidelberg
  

• Dr. Abraham Hodgson

  Navrongo Health Research Centre
  Navrongo
  Ghana
  

• Dr. Bocar Kouyaté

  Nouna Health Research Center (CRSN)
  Nouna
  Burkina Faso
  

• Prof. Dr. Gerd Pluschke

  Swiss Tropical and Public Health
  Institute TPH
  Molecular Immunology Unit
  Basel
  Schweiz