title: Pharyngeal flora in a sexually active population.
abstract: During a 7-week period 1141 patients attending the Genitourinary Clinic at Charing Cross Hospital completed a brief questionnaire and had pharyngeal swabs cultured for Neisseria spp, beta-haemolytic streptococci, corynebacterium and yeasts. The study included 397 heterosexual men, 492 heterosexual women, 189 homosexuals, 41 lesbians and 22 bisexual men and women. Four hundred and sixty patients (40%) admitted oro-genital contact in the preceding 2 weeks. The meningococcal carriage rate was 11.6%. Homosexuals had the highest carriage 23.8% and heterosexual females the lowest 5.9%. Significant differences in carriage rates were found between homosexual and heterosexual men (P < 0.0001), heterosexual men and women (P < 0.005) and between lesbian and heterosexual women (P < 0.025). Recent oro-anal contact significantly increased meningococcal isolation (P < 0.001). A significant association between beta-haemolytic streptococci and concomitant meningococcal carriage was also found (P < 0.01). Sexual orientation and oro-genital contact influences both meningococcal and pharyngeal yeast isolation and should be considered when interpreting pharyngeal culture results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Azadian
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Talboys
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002353:Carrier State; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015003:Yeasts / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents