Invasive meningococcal disease among university undergraduates: association with universities providing relatively large amounts of catered hall accommodation

The incidence of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) among UK university s tudents and non-students of similar age was investigated. In addition, we s ought to identify structural risk factors associated with high rates of IMD in individual universities. Cases were ascertained via Consultants in Comm unicable Disease Control (or equivalent officers) between September 1994 an d March 1997. Data on individual universities were obtained from university accommodation officers. University students had an increased annual rate of invasive meningococcal disease (13.2/10(5), 95 % CI 11.2-15.2) compared with non-students of simil ar age in the same health districts (5/5/10(5), CI 4.7-6.4) and in those he alth districts without universities (3.7/10(5), CI 2.9-4.4). This trend was highly significant. Regression analysis demonstrated catered hall accommod ation to be the main structural risk factor. Higher rates of disease were o bserved at universities providing catered hall places for > 10% of their st udent population (15.3/10(5), CI 11.8-18.8) compared with those providing p laces for < 10% of students (5.9/10(5), CI 4.1-7.7). The majority of IMD am ongst students was caused by serogroup B organisms. University students in the UK are at increased risk of IMD compared with non-students of a similar age. The incidence of IMD tends to be greatest at universities with a high provision of catered hall accommodation.