Abstract

COCH GIOIA, Carolina A et al. Detection of Neisseria meningitidis in asymptomatic carriers in a university hospital from Brazil. Rev. argent. microbiol. [online]. 2015, vol.47, n.4, pp.322-327. ISSN 0325-7541.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ram.2015.08.004.

Asymptomatic meningococcus carriers in hospitals is a risk factor for acquiring meningococcal disease. Meningococcal carrier (MC) frequency was investigated in oropharyngeal swab samples collected from 200 staff members at a teaching hospital from Brazil. MC prevalence was 9 % (95 % CI 5-13 %). Risk factors associated with MC were: mean age of 26.5 years, male gender, bar attendance frequency and number of persons/house. Of 18 isolated meningococcal strains, 14 were non-groupable (NG), 3 corrresponded to serogroup B and 1 to serogroup 29E. The frequency of serotypes and serosubtypes was heterogenous, with a slight predominance of serotypes 4 and 7 and serosubtypes P1.7 and P1.5. Most strains (n = 13) were susceptible to the antimicrobials tested. The ctrA gene (PCR) was identified in 9 (64.3 %) of the 14 NG strains, suggesting virulence in most of the NG isolated strains. Therefore, a constant surveillance of these asymptomatic carriers is required.

Keywords : Neisseria meningitidis; Asymptomatic carriers; Prevalence; Hospital; Antimicrobials; PCR ctrA.

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