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Published on: February 15, 2013

Meningococcal carriage in adolescents and young adults in Kuwait

Mohammed Alghounaim1, Hamad Bastaki2, Mohammed Egaila3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Amiri Hospital, Kuwait City, Kuwait.

Frontiers in Public Health
|May 11, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

In Kuwait, a study found a low carriage rate of Neisseria meningitidis (0.21%) in adolescents and young adults. High MenACWY vaccination coverage may contribute to this, but ongoing surveillance for non-groupable strains is recommended.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Neisseria meningitidis causes invasive meningococcal disease (IMD).
  • Asymptomatic carriage is key to N. meningitidis transmission.
  • Adolescents and young adults exhibit highest carriage rates, with limited data from Kuwait.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of N. meningitidis carriage in Kuwaiti adolescents and young adults.
  • To assess potential associations between carriage and demographic/behavioral factors.
  • To provide population-based carriage data for public health strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study of 1,398 individuals aged 15-20 years in Kuwait (July 2023-May 2024).
  • Oropharyngeal swabs collected for culture-based N. meningitidis detection.
  • Demographic, behavioral, and vaccination data gathered via questionnaires; whole genome sequencing performed on isolates.

Main Results:

  • Overall N. meningitidis carriage rate was 0.21% (3/1,398).
  • All identified isolates were non-groupable (NG); one carried the capsule null locus (CNL).
  • Self-reported MenACWY vaccination coverage was high (94.8%); no significant associations with carriage were found due to low case numbers.

Conclusions:

  • Low carriage rates in Kuwait may indicate effectiveness of current immunization programs.
  • Continued surveillance for N. meningitidis, especially NG strains, is necessary.
  • Further research should evaluate long-term vaccine impact and potential protection gaps.
Keywords:
KuwaitNeisseria meningitidismeningococcal carriagepublic healthvaccination

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