A Simultaneous Outbreak of Meningococcal and Influenza Infections

SUMMARYA prevalence study of personnel on a Royal Naval Air Station revealed that 23-0 % of 2479 personnel were carrying a meningococcus. Selected groups of personnel were subsequently swabbed monthly for a year. We have shown that it is only by repeated swabbing and the use of optimal methods including enrichment media that one can have a hope of identifying the 'true' carriage rate. A presumed virulent strain of Neisseria meningitidis B 15 P 1. 16 was repeatedly isolated from three personnel who remained well, as did their colleagues both at their work place and socially. The study served to emphasize our lack of knowledge of the virulence factors associated with N. meningitidis.

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“…Whilst immunological defects (Whittle et al 1976) (Leading Article, 1982;Pether, 1982;Young et al 1972).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carriage ofNeisseria meningitidis: investigations in a military establishment

et al. 1988

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“…Concomitant upper respiratory infection has been associated with an increase risk of carriage and invasive disease in some settings (54,162,201,246,256,395). For example, an outbreak among five middle school students on the same school bus in rural Virginia was associated with a severe outbreak of influenza B (162).…”

Section: Risk Factors For Infectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prospects for Vaccine Prevention of Meningococcal Infection

2006

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SUMMARY Neisseria meningitidis is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in the United States and worldwide. A serogroup A/C/W-135/Y polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine has been licensed in the United States since 1981 but has not been used universally outside of the military. On 14 January 2005, a polysaccharide conjugate vaccine that covers meningococcal serogroups A, C, W-135, and Y was licensed in the United States for 11- to 55-year-olds and is now recommended for the routine immunization of adolescents and other high-risk groups. This review covers the changing epidemiology of meningococcal disease in the United States, issues related to vaccine prevention, and recommendations on the use of the new vaccine.

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“…Concurrent viral upper respiratory infections may denude the mucosa (32) and increase invasion by the organism. Sporadic cases and outbreaks of meningococcal disease have clearly been associated with concurrent viral upper respiratory tract illness (33,50). During an epidemic in Chad, patients with meningococcal disease were found to shed respiratory viruses and mycoplasma at a significantly higher rate than age-and sex-matched controls (P. Moore, unpublished observation).…”

Section: Risk Factors For Meningococcal Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%

“…During an epidemic in Chad, patients with meningococcal disease were found to shed respiratory viruses and mycoplasma at a significantly higher rate than age-and sex-matched controls (P. Moore, unpublished observation). An investigation of a simultaneous outbreak of meningococcal disease and influenza showed that both meningococcal carriage and disease were significantly more common among patients with serologic evidence of influenza infection, despite similar levels of exposure between patients with and without the viral illness (50).…”

Section: Risk Factors For Meningococcal Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%