biostudies-literatureKiakuvue YNBill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundatione0310528https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11423971biostudies-literatureUnknown19(9)<h4>Introduction</h4>Bacterial meningitis is a major cause of death, with an approximate case fatality rate of 37% across all age groups in South Africa. This study aimed to describe the demographic and pathogen characteristics of incident meningitis in children aged <1 year in South Africa from 2014 through 2018, during a period when Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) were both included in the expanded program on immunization (EPI).<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a cohort study of routine laboratory data in the National Health Laboratory Service Corporate Data Warehouse, which covers approximately 80% of the South African population. We defined a case of laboratory-confirmed bacterial meningitis as any person aged <1 year with meningitis diagnosedPloS oneDemographic and pathogen characteristics of incident bacterial meningitis in infants in South Africa: A cohort study.PMC11423971OPP1208882Kiakuvue YNMashau RGottberg AVGovender NMall SMeiring SCohen CfalseDemographic and pathogen characteristics of incident bacterial meningitis in infants in South Africa: A cohort study.<h4>Introduction</h4>Bacterial meningitis is a major cause of death, with an approximate case fatality rate of 37% across all age groups in South Africa. This study aimed to describe the demographic and pathogen characteristics of incident meningitis in children aged <1 year in South Africa from 2014 through 2018, during a period when Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) were both included in the expanded program on immunization (EPI).<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a cohort study of routine laboratory data in the National Health Laboratory Service Corporate Data Warehouse, which covers approximately 80% of the South African population. We defined a case of laboratory-confirmed bacterial meningitis as any person aged <1 year with meningitis diagnosed2024-01-01T00:00:00Z20242026-06-05T05:05:03.959Z2025-04-07T07:29:12.695ZS-EPMC114239713932119110.1371/journal.pone.0310528