Equivalence of ceftriaxone and rifampicin in eliminating nasopharyngeal carriage of serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis

The efficacy of ceftriaxone In eliminating nasopharyngeal carriage of Neiss eria meningitidis was compared with that of rifampicin during an epidemic o f serogroup B meningococcal disease in Auckland, New Zealand. Household con tacts of cases had a throat swab taken and were randomized to treatment. Ca rriers had a repeat swab taken 6 days later to determine efficacy of treatm ent. Ceftriaxone (98.2%) was equivalent to rifampicin (97.6%) in eliminatin g serogroup B N. meningitidis. It is cheaper than rifampicin and has the ad vantage of full compliance and fewer contraindications, but its acceptabili ty by patients may limit its use as a first-line prophylactic agent.