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. 2021 Mar 29;16(3):e0247991.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247991. eCollection 2021.

Oropharyngeal meningococcal carriage in children and adolescents, a single center study in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Angela Gentile  1 , Maria Paula Della Latta  1 , Mercedes Bloch  1 , Luisina Martorelli  2 , Barbara Wisner  2 , Cecilia Sorhouet Pereira  2 , Mabel Regueira  2 , Maria Del Valle Juarez  1 , Veronica Umido  1 , Adriana Efron  2
Affiliations

Oropharyngeal meningococcal carriage in children and adolescents, a single center study in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Angela Gentile et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) pharyngeal carriage is a necessary condition for invasive disease. We present the first carriage study in children in Buenos Aires, Argentina, considering 2017 as a transition year. Aims: to assess the rate of Nm carriage, to determine genogroup, clonal complex and outer membrane protein distribution, to determine carriage risk factors by age.

Methods: Cross-sectional study including children 1-17 yrs, at Ricardo Gutiérrez Children's Hospital in Buenos Aires 2017. Oro-pharyngeal swabs were taken and cultured within a short time after collection. Genogroup was determined by PCR and clonal complex by MLST. Categorical variables were analyzed.

Results: A total of 1,751 children were included. Group 1: 943 children 1-9 yrs, 38 Nm were isolated; overall carriage 4.0%. Genogroup distribution: B 26.3%, W 5.3%, Y 2.6%, Z 5.3%, other groups 7.9% and capsule null (cnl) 52.6%. Participating in extracurricular activities was the only independent predictor of Nm carriage. Group 2: 808 children 10-17 yrs, 76 Nm were isolated; overall carriage 9.4%. Genogroup distribution: B 19.7%, C 5.3%, W 7.9%, Y 9.2%, Z 5.3%, other groups 7.9% and cnl 44.7%. Independent predictors of carriage: attending pubs/night clubs and passive smoking (adjusted OR: 0.55, 95%CI = 0.32-0.93; p = 0.025).

Conclusions: Overall carriage was higher in 10-17 yrs. The isolates presenting the cnl locus were prevalent in both age groups and genogroup B was the second most frequent.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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