ASSESSMENT OF THE RISK OF TRANSMISSION OF N-MENINGITIDIS IN A CLASSROOM SETTING

Aim. To evaluate the risk of colonisation with N meningitidis among un iversity classroom contacts of a student with invasive meningococcal d isease. Methods. Throat cultures were obtained from classmates and fac ulty exposed to a university student with meningococcal disease. Expos ures to the index case were quantified using a questionnaire. Results. None of the 41 students and staff from whom cultures were obtained sh owed evidence of colonisation with N meningitidis. The contacts had sp ent an average of 13.5 h in class with the index case during the 2 day s prior to the onset of her illness. Conclusions. The risk of colonisa tion with N meningitidis among casual university classroom contacts ap pears to be low. This study lends support to decisions to withhold che moprophylaxis in most instances of such contact.