The effect of a community intervention programme of antibiotics
and meningitis vaccine on
pharyngeal carriage of Neisseria meningitidis was investigated.
Carriage rates were determined
in pupils at both secondary schools (ages 11–18 years) included in
the community intervention
programme and compared with two schools outside the area matched for socio-economic
status. A total of 1869 pupils were studied 6 months after the programmes,
and 2457 pupils
after 11 months.
Six months after the programme was completed there was a 72% reduction
in pharyngeal
carriage of Neisseria meningitidis in pupils attending the schools
in the intervention area
compared with pupils in the control schools. After 11 months this difference
persisted in the
11–14 age group but not in the 15–18 age group. No resistance
to the antibiotics used in the
programme was found.
A community intervention programme of antibiotics and vaccine for the
control of
meningococcal disease led to a long-term reduction in Neisseria meningitidis
carriage in some
age groups.