Risk factors for meningococcal disease in university halls of residence

Nelson, S. J., Charlett, A., Orr, H. J., Barker, R. M., Neal, K. R., Taylor, C., Monk, P. N., Evans, Meirion Rhys ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3578-1866 and Stuart, J. M. 2001. Risk factors for meningococcal disease in university halls of residence. Epidemiology and Infection 126 (02) , pp. 211-217. 10.1017/S0950268801005301

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Abstract

A retrospective ecological study was undertaken to identify social and environmental factors associated with increased incidence of meningococcal disease in university halls of residence. A standardized questionnaire was sent to UK universities and colleges of higher education outside London, for distribution to halls containing at least 50 students. Incidence rate ratios of invasive meningococcal disease were obtained for a range of social and environmental variables. Multi-variable Poisson regression analysis identified 3 factors as having a strong association: a high proportion of first year undergraduate residents (P = 0·0008), decreasing smokiness of the hall bar (P < 0·0001), and opening of hall bar before 1990 (P = 0·0001). The inverse relationship between disease incidence and smokiness of bars was an unexpected finding, and may be due to confounding factors. Universities should continue to promote awareness of meningococcal disease, encourage vaccination of first year students against serogroup C disease, and where appropriate, take measures to reduce overcrowding.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
ISSN:	0950-2688
Last Modified:	27 Oct 2022 09:40
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/67186

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