Key Points

In mainland France, in 2021 compared to 2020, the following were observed:

• A continued decline, observed since 2020, in the incidence of invasive infections caused by certain airborne and/or contact-transmitted bacteria: Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Streptococcus pyogenes. Incidence levels remained lower than those recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic. For Streptococcus pneumoniae, the decrease was less pronounced than in 2020. Additionally, an increase was observed among children aged one to two years and, to a lesser extent, among those under one year of age. The incidence remained highest among children under one year of age but was lower than that observed before the pandemic.

• The incidence of invasive Haemophilus influenzae infections stabilized at levels lower than those observed before the pandemic. However, an increase in incidence was noted this year among children aged three to four years and, for the third consecutive year, among those under two years of age.

• A slight decrease in the incidence of invasive Streptococcus agalactiae infections, which still primarily affected newborns and, to a lesser extent, people aged 70 and older.

• An increase in the incidence of invasive Listeria monocytogenes infections.

In the overseas departments and regions (DrOM) in 2021:

• Mayotte had the highest incidence of invasive infections among the DrOM, and Réunion had the lowest.

• Incidence rates of invasive infections were equivalent in the DrOM and mainland France for Haemophilus influenzae but were higher in the DrOM for all other bacteria monitored by this network.

* Epidemiological data from mandatory reports of invasive infections caused by Neisseria meningitidis and Listeria monocytogenes are available on the Santé publique France website: Invasive meningococcal infections and Listeriosis.