Virology and Pathogenesis Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Vigo, Spain.
Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Xerencia de Xestión Integrada de Vigo, Vigo, Spain.
Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2023 Mar;42(3):287-296. doi: 10.1007/s10096-023-04550-8. Epub 2023 Jan 24.
Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) is asymptomatically carried in the nasopharynx of 5-10% adults, although certain populations, such as men who have sex with men (MSM), exhibit a higher colonisation rate. Interest in Nm carriage has been renewed, owed to meningitis outbreaks within populations of MSM. The aim of this study was to characterise Nm isolates and risk factors for its carriage among MSM attending a sexual health unit. A retrospective cross-sectional study was undertaken between June 2018 and December 2021. We took anal, oropharyngeal, urethral, and blood samples as part of the sexually transmitted infection screening procedures routinely implemented. Nm isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing; the serogroup and genogroup were determined by multi-locus sequence typing. A total of 399 subjects were recruited, and the Nm oropharyngeal carriage rate was 29%, similar among both people living with HIV (PLWH) and uninfected individuals. Nm carriage was less common in vaccinated individuals, especially those who had received the tetravalent vaccine (2.6% vs. 10.6%, p = 0.008). The most frequent serogroups were B (40%) and non-groupable (45%). Most of the isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin (96%) and ceftriaxone (100%). However, we identified 21 strains (20%) belonging to hyperinvasive lineages (CC11, CC4821, CC32, CC41/44, CC213, and CC269), most of which belonged to serogroup B. Given that vaccination with MenACWY was associated with a low Nm carriage, we encourage routine vaccination of all MSM. Moreover, the administration of the meningitis B vaccine should also be assessed considering that several invasive lines included in serogroup B are circulating among MSM.
脑膜炎奈瑟菌（Nm）无症状地存在于 5-10%成人的鼻咽部，尽管某些人群，如男男性行为者（MSM），其定植率更高。由于 MSM 人群中爆发了脑膜炎，人们对 Nm 定植的兴趣重新燃起。本研究旨在描述 MSM 人群中 Nm 分离株的特征及其定植的危险因素。这是一项在 2018 年 6 月至 2021 年 12 月期间进行的回顾性横断面研究。我们采集了肛门、口咽、尿道和血液样本，作为常规实施的性传播感染筛查程序的一部分。对 Nm 分离株进行了抗菌药物敏感性测试；通过多位点序列分型确定血清群和基因群。共招募了 399 名受试者，鼻咽部 Nm 携带率为 29%，在 HIV 感染者（PLWH）和未感染者中相似。在接种过疫苗的人群中，Nm 携带较少，尤其是接种过四价疫苗的人群（2.6%比 10.6%，p=0.008）。最常见的血清群是 B（40%）和无法分型（45%）。大多数分离株对环丙沙星（96%）和头孢曲松（100%）敏感。然而，我们发现了 21 株（20%）属于高侵袭性谱系（CC11、CC4821、CC32、CC41/44、CC213 和 CC269），其中大多数属于血清群 B。鉴于 MenACWY 疫苗接种与 Nm 携带率低有关，我们鼓励所有 MSM 常规接种疫苗。此外，鉴于血清群 B 中存在多种侵袭性谱系，应评估接种脑膜炎 B 疫苗的情况。
