Serogrouping and sulphonamide sensitivity of Neisseria meningitidis isolates from the south-western Cape

.5 The results of serogrouping of meningococcal isolates and testing for sulphonamide resistance at Tygerberg Hospital and the Orange Street Laboratory are combined in Table I and illustrate a fall in the relative predominance of serogroup B isolates, an increase in serogroup C isolates and a dramatic decline in sulphonamide sensitivity. In 1987 71% of the serogroup A isolates, 72% of serogroup B isolates and only 54% of serogroup C isolates were from patients aged under 4 years. Also in 1987 a total of 178 cases of meningococcal disease were notified to the regional office of the Department of Health and Population Development, of which 70% were in children under 4 years of age.