Abstract
Background and objectives: Meningococcal meningitis is a medical emergency, so far. The pharyngeal area of human is the only known reservoir of infection. The residents of crowded semi closed communities are at higher risk for acquisition of infection. In a prospective study, the changing of meningococcal carrier rate was considered during two months accommodation in dormitories among newly arrived students.
Materials and methods: In this study, the carrier status of students defined by double tonsil pharyngeal sampling. The first one performed at the time of admittance and the second, two months then after. The meningococci were identified by routine standard methods. Serogrouping of some isolates characterized by slide agglutination test.
Results: The alteration of meningococcal carrier rates was 8.4% to 17.5% for male students during September and November. It was 5% to 11% for females. In the second semester it changed from 8.5% to 14.9% and 5.7 to 7.7% for male and female students, respectively. Statistically the difference between the carrier rates of dormitory resident first semester male student was significant. The dominant serogroup was group A. The higher carrier rates found among addicted to smoking or those with smoker roommate
Conclusion: Dormitory resident male students are at higher risk of meningococcal carriage status in cold seasons. According to the results of present study although the maximum carrier rate did not reach to the critical 20% limit but it is close. This investigation offer the necessity for performance of similar studies in cold parts of country, there dormitory resident students spend much more time together. In order to prevent meningococcal diseases, parallel to military recruits and Hajj pilgrims, planning of meningococcal vaccination of university students might be useful.