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Meningococcal carriage: prevalence and sex-related risk factors

S C Tayal1, S Rashid, K M Muttu

  • 1Department of Genito-urinary Medicine, City Hospital Trust, Sunderland District General Hospital, U.K.

The Journal of Infection
|March 1, 1997
PubMed

Insights

Higher numbers of lifetime sexual partners were associated with increased meningococcal carriage risk in genitourinary clinic attendees. Age also correlated with carriage, but sexual orientation and other behaviors did not.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcal) carriage is a key factor in disease transmission.
  • Understanding carriage dynamics is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between sexual behavior and meningococcal carriage.
  • To identify risk factors for meningococcal carriage in a genitourinary medicine clinic population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 496 new/re-registered genitourinary clinic attendees from January to April 1994.
  • Data collected on meningococcal carriage, sexual behavior (lifetime partners, partners per month, sexual orientation), age, and other risk factors.
  • Relative risk (RR) calculations to assess associations.

Main Results:

  • Meningococcal carriage was detected in 27.4% of attendees.
  • Higher numbers of lifetime sexual partners showed a significant association with increased carriage risk (RR 1.8 for >10 partners, RR 1.2 for 3-10 partners, P < 0.007).
  • Age groups 16-25 (RR 4.2) and 26-35 (RR 3.5) had higher carriage risk. No association found with sexual orientation, intravenous drug use, or specific sexual practices.

Conclusions:

  • A high number of lifetime sexual partners may be a marker for meningococcal carriage.
  • Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore potential increased risk in household contacts of carriers.
  • Age is a significant factor associated with meningococcal carriage in this population.

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