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Survival of meningococci outside of the host: implications for acquisition

C L Swain1, D R Martin

  • 1Communicable Disease Group, Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), Porirua, New Zealand.

Epidemiology and Infection
|July 5, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Meningococci (Neisseria meningitidis) can survive on surfaces like glass, challenging assumptions about their fragility outside the human body. This suggests potential transmission via contaminated objects, impacting public health strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Meningococci (Neisseria meningitidis) are typically considered fragile and unable to survive long outside the human host.
  • Previous survival studies of meningococci on abiotic surfaces are limited, leading to assumptions rather than empirical data.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the survival capabilities of different meningococcal strains on glass and plastic surfaces.
  • To determine if meningococci retain key surface proteins and capsules after drying on fomites.
  • To assess the potential for indirect transmission of meningococci via contaminated surfaces.

Main Methods:

  • Seven strains of meningococci were dried onto glass and plastic surfaces in known quantities (colony-forming units).
  • Viability of the bacteria was assessed over time on both surfaces.
  • Expression of bacterial capsules and outer membrane proteins was analyzed in recovered isolates.

Main Results:

  • Meningococci demonstrated significantly better survival on glass compared to plastic surfaces (P<0.0001).
  • A specific New Zealand epidemic strain (B:4:P1.7-2,4) exhibited enhanced survival on glass.
  • Recovered meningococcal isolates maintained expression of their capsules and outer membrane proteins.

Conclusions:

  • Meningococci can survive on abiotic surfaces, particularly glass, for extended periods.
  • The ability to retain virulence factors suggests potential for indirect transmission through fomites.
  • These findings necessitate a re-evaluation of transmission routes and environmental survival of meningococci.

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