Absence of Neisseria meningitidis from throat swabs of Kuwaiti pilgrims after returning from the Hajj

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether or not Neisseria meningitidis was present in the throat of Kuwaiti pilgrims after returning from the Hajj.

Method: Throat swabs were taken from 177 participants 1 week after returning from the Hajj. The participants were asked about: associated medical conditions, meningococcal vaccination status and the intake of ciprofloxacin before leaving Mecca for Kuwait.

Results: There was no throat colonization with N. meningitidis on any of the throat swabs. Of the 177 pilgrims, 163 (92%) were vaccinated with meningococcal quadrivalent vaccine before leaving to Saudi Arabia. Ninety-seven of the pilgrims (83%) had received one dose of ciprofloxacin before leaving Mecca.

Conclusion: The result showed that vaccination before leaving Kuwait and ciprofloxacin prophylaxis were effective in preventing throat colonization with Neisseria meningitidis.