Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Phenotypic Analysis of Rodent Malaria Parasite Asexual and Sexual Blood Stages and Mosquito Stages
08:23

Phenotypic Analysis of Rodent Malaria Parasite Asexual and Sexual Blood Stages and Mosquito Stages

Published on: May 30, 2019

12.4K

Meningococcal and pneumococcal carriage in children with HIV

Neslihan Mete Atasever1, Elif Dede1, Seyhan Yilmaz2

  • 1Department of Child Health and Diseases, Department of Pediatric Infection Diseases, Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine.

AIDS (London, England)
|March 25, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Children living with HIV in Türkiye had low meningococcal and comparable pneumococcal carriage to healthy peers. Vaccination and host immunity influenced serotype distribution, supporting continued immunization strategies for this vulnerable group.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Children living with HIV (CLHIV) face higher risks of invasive meningococcal and pneumococcal diseases, even with treatment and vaccines.
  • Limited data exists on nasopharyngeal carriage of these bacteria in CLHIV within Türkiye.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and compare nasopharyngeal carriage rates of Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae in CLHIV versus healthy children in Türkiye.
  • To identify factors associated with carriage, including vaccination status and time since last vaccination.

Main Methods:

  • A multicenter prospective study involving 80 CLHIV and 180 age-matched healthy controls in İstanbul and İzmir.
  • Real-time PCR analysis of nasopharyngeal swabs for bacterial detection and molecular methods for serogroup/serotype determination.
  • Collection of demographic, clinical, and vaccination data, followed by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Main Results:

  • Meningococcal carriage was low in both groups (3.8% CLHIV vs. 8.9% controls), with non-groupable strains found in unvaccinated CLHIV.
  • Pneumococcal carriage rates were similar (28.7% CLHIV vs. 23.9% controls).
  • Among CLHIV, 65.2% of pneumococcal isolates were PCV13 serotypes; longer time since PCV13 vaccination was associated with lower carriage.

Conclusions:

  • CLHIV in Türkiye show low meningococcal and comparable pneumococcal carriage to healthy children.
  • Vaccination, particularly PCV13, and host immunity significantly shape pneumococcal serotype distribution.
  • Findings underscore the importance of sustained risk-group vaccination, household immunization, and ongoing molecular surveillance for CLHIV prevention strategies.
Abstract

Keywords:
HIVTürkiyechildrennasopharyngeal carriagevaccine serotype

Related Concept Videos

Pneumonia I: Introduction01:30

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that targets the lungs, specifically the alveoli. These tiny air sacs, essential for oxygen exchange, become engorged with pus and fluid, severely hindering breathing, decreasing oxygen absorption, and causing significant pain and discomfort during respiration.
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
Viral Meningitis01:18

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...
Cytomegalovirus Disease01:27

Cytomegalovirus Disease

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...
Pneumonia I: Introduction01:29

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...