Prevalence, Risk Factors and Molecular Characteristics of Meningococcal Carriage Among Brazilian Adolescents. Issue 11 (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Moraes, Jose Cassio; Kemp, Brigina; de Lemos, Ana Paula Silva; Outeiro Gorla, Maria Cecilia; Lemes Marques, Eneida Gonçalves; Ferreira, Maria do Carmo; Sacchi, Claudio; Marques Pinto Carvalhanas, Telma Regina; Ribeiro, Ana Freitas; Ferreira, Cleide Marques; Salgado, Maristela Marques; Fukasawa, Lucila; Gonçalves, Maria Gisele; Higa, Fabio; Angerami, Rodrigo; Freitas, André Ribas; Sato, Helena Keico; Palazzi Sáfadi, Marco Aurélio
• Is Part Of: Pediatric infectious disease journal. Volume 34:Issue 11(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: risk factors -- Neisseria meningitidis -- meningococcal carriage; Communicable diseases in children -- Periodicals; Infection in children -- Periodicals; 618.929
• DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000000853
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-3668

Abstract

Abstract : Background: In 2010, introduction of the meningococcal C conjugate vaccine in Brazil for children <2 years provided an immediate reduction in the incidence rates of disease among the age groups targeted for the vaccine, but no early impact was observed in unvaccinated age groups. Knowledge about meningococcal carriage is crucial for improving our understanding of the disease epidemiology and for designing effective vaccination programs. Taking in account the very limited published data currently available describing meningococcal carriage in Brazil, we performed a study to evaluate the prevalence of Neisseria meningitidis carriage among adolescent students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2012 to assess the prevalence of meningococcal carriage among a representative sample of 1208 students 11–19 years of age in Campinas, Brazil. Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of isolated carriage strains and the effect of potential risk factors for carriage were also analyzed. Results: The overall carriage prevalence was 9.9% (95% confidence interval, 8.3–11.8%), with dominance of serogroup C (1.32%), followed by serogroups B (0.99%), E (0.74%), Y (0.49%) and W (0.25%). A lower level of education of the parents was independently associated with a higher risk of carriage. A high diversity of genotypes was found among carriage strains. Conclusions: The evidence gathered during this study provides estimates of carriage prevalence in Brazilian adolescents, showing an unusually high dominance of serogroup C. These results have important implications in future strategies to optimize the impact of the current meningococcal C vaccination program in Brazil.