Meningococcal Carriage among Household Contacts of Patients with Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Kathmandu, Nepal: A Longitudinal Study. 2021

Supriya Sharma, and Jyoti Acharya, and Dominique A Caugant, and Shreedhar Aryal, and Megha Raj Banjara, and Prakash Ghimire, and Anjana Singh
Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal.

Because asymptomatic carriers are key source of transmission, information on meningococcal carriage in the community provides a scientific basis for appropriate preventive/control strategies. This longitudinal study (January 2017-December 2019) aimed to estimate carriage rate of meningococci among household contacts of meningococcal meningitis cases within Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Throat swab samples were collected at first visit from each person in households, twice a month for up to 2 months and subsequently on a monthly basis for a further 4 months. Altogether, 1125 throat samples were processed by conventional culture for the identification of meningococci. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study on meningococcal carriage in Nepal. The meningococcal carriage rate among household contacts was 15%. All carriers were aged 19 years or older. There was no statistically significant gender difference. The duration of carriage was 60 days. Twenty of 36 isolates belonged to serogroup A, and 16 were non-serogroupable (NG). Serogroups isolated from the same individuals did not change within the follow-up period. All meningococcal isolates over the past 38 years in Nepal that have been reported in previous studies have belonged to serogroup A. The detection of NG meningococcal isolates in apparently healthy household contacts clearly indicates the importance of vigilance through surveillance and periodic in-depth studies.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries

Related Publications

Supriya Sharma, and Jyoti Acharya, and Dominique A Caugant, and Shreedhar Aryal, and Megha Raj Banjara, and Prakash Ghimire, and Anjana Singh
April 2001, European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology,
Supriya Sharma, and Jyoti Acharya, and Dominique A Caugant, and Shreedhar Aryal, and Megha Raj Banjara, and Prakash Ghimire, and Anjana Singh
March 1989, BMJ (Clinical research ed.),
Supriya Sharma, and Jyoti Acharya, and Dominique A Caugant, and Shreedhar Aryal, and Megha Raj Banjara, and Prakash Ghimire, and Anjana Singh
March 1999, BMJ (Clinical research ed.),
Supriya Sharma, and Jyoti Acharya, and Dominique A Caugant, and Shreedhar Aryal, and Megha Raj Banjara, and Prakash Ghimire, and Anjana Singh
August 2002, BMJ (Clinical research ed.),
Supriya Sharma, and Jyoti Acharya, and Dominique A Caugant, and Shreedhar Aryal, and Megha Raj Banjara, and Prakash Ghimire, and Anjana Singh
May 1999, American journal of epidemiology,
Supriya Sharma, and Jyoti Acharya, and Dominique A Caugant, and Shreedhar Aryal, and Megha Raj Banjara, and Prakash Ghimire, and Anjana Singh
March 2022, The Pediatric infectious disease journal,
Supriya Sharma, and Jyoti Acharya, and Dominique A Caugant, and Shreedhar Aryal, and Megha Raj Banjara, and Prakash Ghimire, and Anjana Singh
February 1991, Epidemiology and infection,
Supriya Sharma, and Jyoti Acharya, and Dominique A Caugant, and Shreedhar Aryal, and Megha Raj Banjara, and Prakash Ghimire, and Anjana Singh
May 1993, The Journal of infectious diseases,
Supriya Sharma, and Jyoti Acharya, and Dominique A Caugant, and Shreedhar Aryal, and Megha Raj Banjara, and Prakash Ghimire, and Anjana Singh
September 1986, Lancet (London, England),
Supriya Sharma, and Jyoti Acharya, and Dominique A Caugant, and Shreedhar Aryal, and Megha Raj Banjara, and Prakash Ghimire, and Anjana Singh
March 1999, BMJ (Clinical research ed.),
Copied contents to your clipboard!