Changing carriage rate of Neisseria meningitidis among university students during the first week of term: cross sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine the rates of, and risk factors for, meningococcal carriage and acquisition among university students.

Design

Repeated cross sectional study.

Participants

2,507 students in their first year at university.

Main outcome measures

Prevalence of carriage of meningococci and risk factors for carriage and acquisition of meningococci.

Results

Carriage rates for meningoccoci increased rapidly in the first week of term from 6.9% on day 1, to 11.2% on day 2, to 19.0% on day 3, and to 23.1% on day 4. The average carriage rate during the first week of term in October among students living in catered halls was 13.9%. By November this had risen to 31.0% and in December it had reached 34. 2%. Independent associations for acquisition of meningococci

SUBMITTER: Neal KR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC27326 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature