Abstract:
Neisseria meningitidis is known to cause severe sepsis, meningitis and pneumonia. Meningococcal
carriage is a prerequisite for invasive infection and essential for transmission. This study aimed at
determining the rate of pharyngeal carriage and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of meningococcal
isolates among prisoners in Jimma Ethiopia.
Method
Cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma Zonal prison in Jimma town, Southwest Ethiopia from
May to October, 2019. Samples of Pharyngeal swabs were collected, processed, isolated and identified N.
meningitidis using standard microbiological techniques. Colonies identified as N .meningitidis further
investigated by slide-agglutination serogrouping method using antisera. Antibiotic susceptibility test were
done for isolates using disk diffusion method. Data on demographic and factors for carriage were
collected using a structured questionnaire and assessed using statistical methods including binary
logistic regression analysis.
Result
Out of the 275 study participants (263 males and 12 females), 38(13.8%) were found carriers of N.
meningitidis. The predominant isolates were Non-serogroupable 13(34.2%) and serogroup W/Y
11(28.9%) respectively. Of the isolates, 31.6% exhibited intermediate resistance and 5.3% resistance to
penicillin; 15.8% of isolates exhibited resistance for ceftriaxone, in contrast, isolates were exhibited
(97.4%) sensitive to chloramphenicol and 94.7% sensitive to rifampicin. Factor with increased of N.
meningitidis pharyngeal carriage were being age group of 16-20 years (p ≤ 0.014) (AOR: 5.31) 95% CI:
1.404–20.076); having respiratory symptom within three months (p≤ 0.048) (AOR: 2.327) 95% CI: 1.007-
5.380), active cigarette smoking within three months (p ≤ 0.001) (AOR: 6.788) 95% CI 3.007-15.326).
Antimicrobial use within three months was decrease risk of N. meningitidis pharyngeal carriage (p ≤
0.004) (AOR: 0. 263) 95% CI: 0.106–0.655).
Conclusions
The participants harbour most of serogroups that are responsible for invasive cases of meningococcal
disease. The isolates exhibited relatively high resistance to ceftriaxone. Respiratory symptom, active
cigarette smoking and age group of 16-20 years increase risk of N. meningitidis pharyngeal carriage
rate. This study suggests better to provide antibiotic prophylaxis for prisoners.
