title: Transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae in adults may occur through saliva.
abstract: Of 742 army recruits tested for pneumococcal nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal carriage, 6·6% were positive. Frequent sharing of a drinking glass/bottle was a common, strong and independent risk factor for pneumococcal carriage. Our findings strongly suggest, for the first time, that in young adults, transmission of pneumococci may occur via saliva and this should be considered when conducting an outbreak investigation and carriage studies.
authors.affiliation: Army Health Branch, Medical Corps, Israeli Defense Force, Israel. tohagai@bezeqint.net
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zarka
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dagan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sela
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rozhavski
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Balicer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult