Bacterial meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, also known as meninges caused by a bacterial infection. There are three main types of bacterial meningitis: meningococcal, pneumococcal and HiB. Vaccinations are available for all three types of bacterial meningitis.
Meningococcal Vaccine
Meningococcal meningitis caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis infections in children and young adults. The National Meningitis Association reports that there are approximately 3,000 cases of meningococcal meningitis per year in the United States, that 10 percent to 12 percent of those patients die due to the disease, and another 20 percent suffer permanent neurological damage. Two vaccines are available to prevent meningococcal meningitis: the Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) and the Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4).
Both the MPSV4 and MCV4 vaccines protect against the strains of bacteria that cause 75 percent of all meningococcal meningitis illnesses. The MCV4 vaccine is a conjugate vaccine, meaning it's coupled to a protein carrier that helps boost the body's immune response. Therefore, the MCV4 vaccine provides stronger and longer-lasting protection than the MPSV4 vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all people between ages 11 and 18 get the MCV4 vaccine.
Pneumococcal Vaccine
Pneumococcal meningitis, caused by the Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria, is the most common type of bacterial meningitis. It accounts for 3,000 to 6,000 cases per year in the United States, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. There are two vaccine available to prevent infection with Streptococcus pneumonia: the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) and the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). These two vaccine help prevent pneumococcal meningitis and other infections caused by this bacteria, including pneumonia, middle ear infections and bacteremia (blood poisoning).
The PPV vaccine protects against infection from 23 of the 90 different strains of Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria. These 23 strains, however, cause 85 percent to 90 percent of the serious infections, including meningitis, according to the National Network for Immunization Information.
Infection with Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria is especially dangerous for infants younger than 2. The PCV vaccine has an advantage over the PPV vaccine because it has the ability to illicit immune response even in those with an immature immune system.
Haemophilus Influenza Type B Vaccine
The Haemophilus Influenza Type B are bacteria that commonly live in the noses and throats of healthy people. The bacteria can enter the bloodstream and result in potentially life-threatening conditions, such as bacterial meningitis. Before the introduction of the HiB vaccine in the United States in 1986, HiB was the major cause of bacterial meningitis. The advantages of the vaccine, however, are apparent: HiB-related infections have dropped from 20,000 per year to fewer than 100, according to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center.
