Abstract

MARTINEZ, Isabel et al. Nasopharyngeal carriers of Neisseria meningitidis in workers with occupational risk. Vaccimonitor [online]. 2010, vol.19, n.1, pp.1-8. ISSN 1025-028X.

Neisseria meningitidis carriers are the main infection and transmission source of the meningococcal disease. To know their prevalence, the characteristics of isolated strains and the risk factors associated to carrier status, provide important information for epidemiological surveillance and control. A descriptive-transversal study on N. meningitidis carriers was performed. It involved 112 workers from a biopharmaceutical production center in Havana, from 18 to 60 years old. Bioethical requirements were complied before starting the study. A nasopharyngeal swab was performed to all subjects and they were surveyed to find out on risk factors (age, sex, overcrowding, smoking and drinking habit, amygdalectomy and background of respiratory infection) that may favor the condition of the carrier. The identification of N. meningitidis strains was carried out using conventional methods, the classification of the serogroups by slide agglutination with commercial antisera and the identification of serotypes and subtypes by an immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA) of whole cells with monoclonal antibodies. Eight percent of N. meningitidis carriers was detected, serogroup B (77.8%) was predominant and B:4:P1.4 (33.3%) was the most frequently observed phenotype. When analyzing the carrier status and its association to risk factors, statistically significant difference was only observed in age (p=0.05) and sex (p= 0.013). The possibility of occupational risk was demonstrated in those subjects, who due to their profession are involved with pathogenic microorganisms.

Keywords : Neisseria meningitidis; meningococcal disease; carriers; risk factors; occupational risk; epidemiological markers; meningococcal vaccine.

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