The detection of meningococcal household clusters and their prophylaxis in the changing epidemiological situation of invasive meningococcal disease in Poland, 2003-2006

During discussions with international experts on invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) research, we realised that surveillance forms collected in Poland were much more comprehensive than in other European countries. Because these forms included a detailed list of household contacts of each IMD case and who was given chemioprophylaxis, we did a simple analysis of IMD transmission within household clusters. This simple analysis was quite soon included in several evidence reviews on the effectiveness of chemioprophylaxis in preventing secondary household transmission.