The descriptive epidemiology of pneumococcal meningitis in New York City.

A total of 348 cases of meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae were reported to and investigated by the New York City Department of Health during the six years 1973-1978. The descriptive epidemiology and completeness of reporting of this disease entity are presented. The total crude incidence was estimated at 1.46 cases per 100,000 population per year. The high-risk age categories were less than 5 years and greater than or equal to 65 years. The incidence of pneumococcal meningitis for blacks with sickle cell disease was much greater than that for other blacks, who, in turn, had a higher rate than whites. The overall case fatality ratio was 0.590. The case fatality increased with increasing age and was higher in nonwhites than in whites. Twenty-four per cent of all cases had predisposing chronic conditions which would have qualified them for the polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine under the present guidelines.