Quadrivalent Conjugate Vaccine and Invasive Meningococcal Disease in US Adolescents and Young Adults

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Abstract
Meningococcal infection, caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, is associated with severe disease, most commonly meningitis or sepsis. Long-term sequelae include limb loss, skin scarring, seizures, and neurologic impairment, such as hearing and vision loss, among other disabilities.1,2 Colonization with N meningitidis is common, particularly among older adolescents,3 and is a substantial source of transmission to others. Twelve serogroups of N meningitidis have been identified, but most cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) are caused by serogroups A, B, C, W, X, and Y worldwide.4 The burden of IMD varies by country and region, ranging from less than 1 case per 100 000 population in some industrialized countries5 to more than 100 cases during outbreaks in the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa.6 Although not typically a seasonal disease,7 most cases tend to occur during the winter and early spring months.8

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