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Pharyngeal flora in a sexually active population
J M Russell1, B S Azadian, A P Roberts
1Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
International Journal of STD & AIDS
|May 1, 1995
Summary
Sexual behavior and orientation impact Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcal) and yeast carriage in the throat. Homosexual men showed the highest meningococcal rates, while heterosexual females had the lowest.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Pharyngeal carriage of Neisseria spp. and other microorganisms is influenced by various factors.
- Understanding carriage rates is crucial for infection control and epidemiological studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of sexual orientation and oro-genital contact on pharyngeal carriage rates of Neisseria spp., beta-haemolytic streptococci, corynebacterium, and yeasts.
- To identify specific risk factors associated with increased carriage rates.
Main Methods:
- A 7-week study involving 1141 patients from a Genitourinary Clinic.
- Pharyngeal swabs were cultured for specific microorganisms.
- Patients completed questionnaires on sexual contact and demographics.
Main Results:
- The overall meningococcal carriage rate was 11.6%.
- Homosexual men exhibited the highest meningococcal carriage rate (23.8%), significantly higher than heterosexual men (P < 0.0001).
- Heterosexual females had the lowest carriage rate (5.9%). Recent oro-anal contact and beta-haemolytic streptococci carriage were associated with increased meningococcal isolation (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Sexual orientation and oro-genital contact significantly influence meningococcal and pharyngeal yeast isolation.
- These factors should be considered when interpreting pharyngeal culture results in clinical and epidemiological settings.