Risk of meningococcal infection in college students

Context The number of meningococcal outbreaks on college campuses have been increasing in the past few years. However, no published studies have docum ented the incidence of invasive meningococcal infection in college students or whether the incidence is higher than in the general population of the s ame age. Objective To compare the incidence of invasive meningococcal infection in M aryland college students with that of the general population of the same ag e, Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting and Patients Maryland residents with meningococcal infection from 1 992-1997 identified from active, laboratory-based, statewide surveillance f or invasive meningococcal disease, Main Outcome Measures Incidence of invasive meningococcal infection. Results Of 228 patients with invasive meningococcal infection, 67 were aged 16 to 30 years; 11 and 3 of these attended Maryland 4- and 2-year colleges , respectively, Of these, 12 (86%) had infection caused by Neisseria mening itidis serogroups included in the current meningococcal vaccine. The averag e annual incidence was 1.74 per 100 000 among students in 4-year schools vs 1.44 per 100 000 for the general population of the same age (P = .60). Amo ng students in 4-year schools, the incidence was 3.24 per 100 000 in on-cam pus residents vs 0.96 per 100 000 in off-campus residents (relative risk, 3 .4; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-11.6; P = .05). Conclusions The incidence of meningococcal infection in college students is similar to the incidence in the general population of the same age, but co llege students residing on campus appear to be at higher risk than those re siding off campus.