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Factors affecting carriage of Neisseria meningitidis among Greek military recruits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

C. C. Blackwell ,
G. Tzanakaki ,
J. Kremastinou ,
D. M. Weir ,
N. Vakalis ,
R. A. Elton ,
A. Mentis  and
N. Fatouros
C. C. Blackwell
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, The Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG
G. Tzanakaki
Affiliation:
National Meningitis Reference Laboratory, Hellenic Institute Pasteur, Athens, Greece
J. Kremastinou
Affiliation:
Athens School of Public Health, Athens, Greece
D. M. Weir
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, The Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG
N. Vakalis
Affiliation:
Athens School of Public Health, Athens, Greece
R. A. Elton
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh
A. Mentis
Affiliation:
National Meningitis Reference Laboratory, Hellenic Institute Pasteur, Athens, Greece
N. Fatouros
Affiliation:
Athens School of Public Health, Athens, Greece
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Summary

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Greek military recruits (993) were examined for carriage of meningococci during July 1990. Blood, saliva and throat swab specimens were obtained and each recruit answered a questionnaire providing information on age, education (a measure of socioeconomic level), place of residence, smoking habits and recent infections.

The overall carriage rate was 25% but differed between the two camps: 79/432 (18%) in Camp A and 168/561 (30%) in Camp B (P < 0·0005). In Camp B, there were significantly higher proportions of recruits who were non-secretors (P < 0·0005), and/or heavy smokers (P < 0·0005). They were also younger ( < 19 years old) (P < 0·001), and on the whole had fewer years of education (P < 0·0005). By univariate analysis, carriage was significantly associated with smoking. By multiple logistic regression analysis, carriage was associated with smoking (P < 0·001), age (P < 0·01) and the camp in which the recruits were based (P < 0·01). Among recruits in Camp B, 15/38 (40%) of those with recent viral infections were carriers compared with 30% for the camp in general.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 108 , Issue 3 , June 1992 , pp. 441 - 448
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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