TY - JOUR
TI - FACTORS AFFECTING CARRIAGE OF NEISSERIA-MENINGITIDIS AMONG GREEK
MILITARY RECRUITS
AU - BLACKWELL, CC
AU - TZANAKAKI, G
AU - KREMASTINOU, J
AU - WEIR, DM and
AU - VAKALIS, N
AU - ELTON, RA
AU - MENTIS, A
AU - FATOUROS, N
JO - Epidemiology and Infection
PY - 1992
VL - 108
TODO - 3
SP - 441-448
PB - Cambridge University Press
SN - 0950-2688, 1469-4409
TODO - 10.1017/S0950268800049943
TODO - null
TODO - Greek military recruits (993) were examined for carriage of meningococci
during July 1990. Blood, saliva and throat swab specimens were obtained
and each recruit answered a questionnaire providing information on age,
education (a measure of socioeconomic level), place of residence.
smoking habits and recent infections.
The overall carriage rate was 25 % but differed between the two camps:
79/432 (18%) in Camp A and 168/561 (30 %) in Camp B (P < 0.0005). In
Camp B, there were significantly higher proportions of recruits who were
non-secretors (P < 0.0005), and/or heavy smokers (P < 0.0005). They were
also younger (< 19 years old) (P < 0.001), and on the whole had fewer
years of education (P < 0.0005). By univariate analysis, carriage was
significantly associated with smoking. By multiple logistic regression
analysis, carriage was associated with smoking (P < 0.001), age (P <
0.01) and the camp in which the recruits were based (P < 0.01). Among
recruits in Camp B, 15/38 (40%) of those with recent viral infections
were carriers compared with 30% for the camp in general.
ER -