Epidemiology of nasopharyngeal carriage of Neisseria meningitidis in healthy Dutch children

Clin Infect Dis. 2005 Mar 15;40(6):899-902. doi: 10.1086/428351. Epub 2005 Feb 18.

Abstract

We investigated the prevalence and determinants of nasopharyngeal carriage of Neisseria meningitidis in 3200 healthy children aged 1-19 years. The incidence of meningococcal carriage was, on average, 1.5%. Peak incidences were seen at age 1 year and after age 15 years. The independent determinants of meningococcal carriage included age, regular visits to youth clubs (odds ratio [OR], 2.2) and discotheques (OR, 4.3), and pneumococcal carriage (OR, 4.1).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aging
  • Carrier State*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Meningococcal Infections / epidemiology*
  • Nasopharynx / microbiology*
  • Neisseria meningitidis / isolation & purification*
  • Netherlands / epidemiology
  • Odds Ratio
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors