脑膜炎球菌病在温带地区中散发,常见为 B 型、C 型脑膜炎双球菌。欧洲国家间存在差异,法国年发生率<1/10 万,英国及西班牙可高至 4-5/10 万。[4]Hubert B, Caugant DA. Recent changes in meningococcal disease in Europe. Euro Surveill. 1997;2:69-71.http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=145http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12631793?tool=bestpractice.com于撒哈拉以南的非洲脑膜炎带国家在疾病暴发时发病率可达 500/10 万,通常为血清型 A 感染,而近期大爆发为血清型 W135 引起。[5]World Health Organization. Emergence of W135 meningococcal disease. Report of a WHO consultation, Geneva 17-18 September 2001. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2002.http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/meningitis/whocdscsrgar20021.pdf[6]Molesworth AM, Thomson MC, Connor SJ, et al. Where is the meningitis belt? Defining an area at risk of epidemic meningitis in Africa. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2002;96:242-249.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12174770?tool=bestpractice.com[7]Hart CA, Cuevas LE. Meningococcal disease in Africa. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1997;91:777-785.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9625934?tool=bestpractice.com非洲撒哈拉以南的患者>90%仅存在脑膜炎。[7]Hart CA, Cuevas LE. Meningococcal disease in Africa. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 1997;91:777-785.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9625934?tool=bestpractice.com
20 世纪 90 年代中期,美国侵袭性脑膜炎球菌感染率达到峰值,此后下降,到 2013 年下降到历史最低值 0.18 例/10 万人。[8]Cohn AC, MacNeil JR, Clark TA, et al; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention and control of meningococcal disease: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep. 2013;62:1-28.http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6202a1.htmhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23515099?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meningococcal disease: technical & clinical information. http://www.cdc.gov/ (last accessed 10 March 2017).http://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/clinical-info.html大多数感染是由血清型 B、C、Y 引起。从 20 世纪 90 年代以来,分离出的血清型 Y 菌株不断增加。[10]Cohn AC, MacNeil JR, Harrison LH, et al. Changes in Neisseria meningitidis disease epidemiology in the United States, 1998-2007: implications for prevention of meningococcal disease. Clin Infect Dis. 2010;50:184-191.http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/50/2/184.longhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20001736?tool=bestpractice.com以散发病例为主,但偶有因血清型 C 和 Y 引起的局部爆发。5 岁以内儿童(尤其是 1 岁以内儿童)侵袭性感染发生率最高,第二发病高峰在 11-22 岁间,第三次发病高峰在 65 岁以后。婴幼儿感染主要是血清型 B。在非洲及亚洲地区,血清型 A 与 W-135 最为常见。[2]Pollard AJ. Global epidemiology of meningococcal disease and vaccine efficacy. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2004;23(12 suppl):S274-S279.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15597069?tool=bestpractice.com血清型 A 菌株具有地区流行性,仍是撒哈拉以南地区脑膜炎流行带疾病流行的主要原因,但这些感染的流行病学继续演变,因为在这个地区引入了新的疫苗,并出现了新的毒性菌株。