title: Detection of Neisseria meningitidis in asymptomatic carriers in a university hospital from Brazil.
abstract: 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-group able (NG), 3 corresponded 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.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG), Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology Department, University Hospital, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: carol_alicia_05@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Carolina A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Coch Gioia
authors.affiliation: Adolfo Lutz Institute (IAL), Division of Medical Biology, Bacteriology Department, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Silva de Lemos
authors.affiliation: Adolfo Lutz Institute (IAL), Division of Medical Biology, Bacteriology Department, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Outeiro Gorla
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG), Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology Department, University Hospital, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raul A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mendoza-Sassi
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG), Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology Department, University Hospital, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ballester
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG), Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology Department, University Hospital, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Von Groll
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG), Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology Department, University Hospital, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wedig
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG), Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology Department, University Hospital, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nathalia de Vargas
authors.initials: Nde V
authors.lastname: Ethur
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG), Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology Department, University Hospital, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Letícia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bragança
authors.affiliation: State University of Rio de Jeneiro (UERJ) Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology Department, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucimar Gonçalves
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Milagres
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG), Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology Department, University Hospital, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Almeida da Silva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D001938:Brazil; D002353:Carrier State; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Antimicrobials; Antimicrobianos; Asymptomatic carriers; Hospital; Neisseria meningitidis; PCR ctrA; Portadores asintomáticos; Prevalence; Prevalencia