Dynamics of meningococcal long-term carriage among university students and their implications for mass vaccination.

ABSTRACT: In the 1997-98 academic year, we conducted a longitudinal study of meningococcal carriage and acquisition among first-year students at Nottingham University, Nottingham, United Kingdom. We examined the dynamics of long-term meningococcal carriage with detailed characterization of the isolates. Pharyngeal swabs were obtained from 2,453 first-year students at the start of the academic year (October), later on during the autumn term, and again in March. Swabs were immediately cultured on selective media, and meningococci were identified and serologically characterized. Nongroupable strains were genetically grouped using a PCR-based assay. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was used to determine the link between sequential isolates. Of the carriers initially identified in October, 44.1% (98 of 2

SUBMITTER: Ala'Aldeen DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC86789 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature