PHARYNGEAL-FLORA IN A SEXUALLY ACTIVE POPULATION

During a 7-week period 1141 patients attending the Genitourinary Clini c at Charing Cross Hospital completed a brief questionnaire and had ph aryngeal swabs cultured for Neisseria spp, beta-haemolytic streptococc i, corynebacterium and yeasts. The study included 397 heterosexual men , 492 heterosexual women, 189 homosexuals, 41 lesbians and 22 bisexual men and women. Four hundred and sixty patients (40%) admitted ore-gen ital contact in the preceding 2 weeks. The meningococcal carriage rate was 11.6%. Homosexuals had the highest carriage 23.8% and heterosexua l females the lowest 5.9%. Significant differences in carriage rates w ere found between homosexual and heterosexual men (P<0.0001), heterose xual men and women (P<0.005) and between lesbian and heterosexual wome n (P<0.025). Recent oro-anal contact significantly increased meningoco ccal isolation (P<0.001). A significant association between beta-haemo lytic streptococci and concomitant meningococcal carriage was also fou nd (P<0.01). Sexual orientation and ore-genital contact influences bot h meningococcal and pharyngeal yeast isolation and should be considere d when interpreting pharyngeal culture results.