First annual meeting of the invasive bacterial infections surveillance network in Europe

This report is the result of a multidisciplinary consultation of experts regarding the future surveillance of invasive meningococcal and Haemophilus influenzae diseases, held at ECDC from 17 to 18 March 2009. Working groups provided their opinion on specific questions regarding surveillance objectives, variables to be collected in enhanced EU surveillance, frequency of reporting and production and timing of regular reports. Experts also expressed their views on the use and feasibility of molecular typing methods for routine surveillance, and on ECDC’s and Member States’ roles in the detection of international and cross-border clusters and outbreaks.