Elsevier

The Lancet

Volume 356, Issue 9242, 11 November 2000, Pages 1653-1654
The Lancet

Research Letters
Underestimation of meningococci in tonsillar tissue by nasopharyngeal swabbing

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(00)03162-7Get rights and content

Summary

The relation between carriage of Neisseria meningitidis and progression to invasive disease is not fully understood. We assessed the rate of N meningitidis carriage by conventional swabbing and immunohistochemistry in patients undergoing tonsillectomy. Swabbing detected only a quarter of carriers, and bacteria were identified beneath the mucosal surface in tonsillar tissue by immunochemical testing. Our results indicate that N meningitidis is more widespread in the population than previously thought, and have broad implications for disease prevention and cure.

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