Extrait

Background and study aims Meningococci are a type of bacteria that cause serious infections. They are usually carried harmlessly in the oropharynx (part of the throat) but sometimes cause devastating disease. We collected samples of meningococci carried by 14,000 – 18,000 sixth form students for three consecutive years between 1999 and 2001, before and after the introduction of meningococcal C conjugate (MCC) vaccines. This corresponded to a time of unprecedented meningococcal disease incidence, the highest seen in the postwar period and 45 times higher than current disease incidence. We propose to collect a similar sample of carried meningococci 15 years later at a time of unusually low disease incidence and prior to any changes in the national immunization schedule involving MCC vaccine boosters to teenagers and the introduction of the novel vaccine Bexsero® into the infant schedule. We will then carry out a genetic study comparing disease and carriage meningococci from high and low incidence periods. This study aims to answer the following questions: What are the genetic characteristics that define invasive epidemic meningococci? How has the population of meningococci changed over the last 15 years? What are the risk factors for meningococcal carriage? Who can participate? Participants should be in school years 12 or 13 (S5 and S6 in Scotland) and aged 15-19 years in full-time or part-time education, or aged 16-19 years in the general community. What does the study involve? It involves taking a single swab from the back of the throat and completing a brief questionnaire about participants and their lifestyle. In Glasgow, a single saliva sample will also be collected. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? By taking part, participants will help improve our understanding of meningococcal disease and carriage, and help us understand how to use vaccines to best protect other people in the future. There is no direct benefit to participants themselves. Some people find a throat swab either tickly or a bit unpleasant but this only lasts only a few seconds. Where is the study run from? University of Oxford (UK). When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? The study will run from September 2014 to August 2015. Who is funding the study? Wellcome Trust (UK). Who is the main contact? Dr Jenny MacLennan

Critère d'inclusion

• Topic: Children, Primary Care; Subtopic: All Diagnoses, Other Primary Care; Disease: All Diseases, All Diseases

Liens

• ictrp
• isrctn