Phenotypical and genotypical characterization of Neisseria meningitidis carrier strains isolated from Polish recruits in 1998.

The aim of this study was to investigate the Neisseria meningitidis carriage rate among two cohorts of Polish recruits upon entry to the military and during the first 2 months of their service, i.e. in the spring and autumn of 1998, and to characterize the meningococcal strains isolated. Pharyngeal swabs were taken four and five times from 151 and 168 men, respectively. Altogether, 81 and 180 meningococcal isolates representing 54 and 102 different strains were recovered. The overall rates of carriage in the spring and in the autumn were 36% and 61%, and, among recruits who submitted to sampling on at least three occasions, 39% and 55%. Eighty-three of 156 (53%) meningococcal carrier strains were nongroupable; among the remaining strains, serogroup B was predominant (32% of all carrier strains). In both surveys the predominant phenotype was Neisseria meningitidis NG:21:P1.7.

[Tests for Neisseria meningitidis in adolescents and adults (recruits)]. / Badania nosicielstwa Neisseria meningitidis u mlodziezy i osób doroslych (poborowych).

No N. meningitidis strain was isolated from 168 children 14 years old. However, among 17-19 years old young people 14% meningococcal carriage rate was demonstrated. In three surveillance trials performed in military units in spring 1998 and autumn 1998 and 1999; 81, 225 and 153 isolates of N. meningitidis, respectively were obtained. A change in N. meningitidis carrier status was observed. At the autumn study, two times more N. meningitidis intermittent carriers were found than in the spring investigations. Among these population we found short-term and long-term carriers--last day of the longest trial--162 day. Meningococcal carriage rate increases among recruits in overcrowded living conditions.

[Meningococcal infections in Warsaw's district]. / Zakazenia meningokokowe w województwie stolecznym warszawskim.

The epidemiological situation of meningococcal meningitis in Warsaw's district in comparison to the situation in Poland in the years 1980-1997 in discussed. In September 1997, the local population of Zielonka--small city in Warsaw's district, was alarmed by two meningococcal septicaemia cases in girls attending to the same kindergarten. Anti-epidemic measures undertaken were described.

[The study of carrier of Neisseria meningitidis performed in Zielonec and characteristics of meningogocci isolated from patients at the Wolomin hospital, Warsaw district]. / Badania nosicielstwa N. meningitidis przeprowadzone w Zielonce oraz charakterystyka meningokoków izolowanych od chorych z terenu TSSE-Wolomin, woj. stol. warszawskie.

Meningococcal carriage study, performed after N. meningitidis outbreak in Zielonka included 130 persons (111 children). No N. meningitidis strain was isolated. Phenotype and genotype analysis of 6 meningococcal isolates obtained from blood and CSF, showed their heterogeneity with exception of 2 isolates from Zielonka's cases of meningococcal sepsis which were identical.

Simultaneous persistence of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible clones of Staphylococcus aureus in a neonatal ward of a Warsaw hospital.

Fifty-seven methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from babies (N = 31), carriers amongst health care workers (N = 16; 10% of all staff members) and the environment (N = 10); 39 MSSA isolates, from babies (N = 18), health care workers (N = 5) and environment (N = 16) were analysed. The strains were from the neonatal ward of a teaching hospital in Warsaw and were collected over a period of 16 months (1993/1994). The isolates were characterized by phage-typing, arbitrary-primed polymerase chain reaction (AP PCR), DNA repeat polymorphism within the protein A gene and the resistance pattern to antimicrobial agents. The presence of the mecA gene was determined by PCR. MRSA were classified as heterogeneously resistant to methicillin, susceptible to other antimicrobial agents and, except for three isolates, appeared to be genotypically almost identical. The first example of mupirocin resistant MRSA in Poland was documented. Amongst MSSA isolates, increased variability was seen, however, the persistence of one predominate clone of MSSA was shown. In this particular hospital environment, several different strains of both MRSA and MSSA were capable of maintaining persistent colonization.