The effect of rifampicin on meningòcoccal carriage in family contacts in northern Nigeria

Abstract

Summary In a study of carriage of Neisseria meningitidis in family contacts of patients with group A meningococcal meningitis in the African meningitis belt an overall carrier rate of 17 per cent was observed. The rate was higher in the younger age groups (5–19 years). No overall sex difference was observed. The carrier rate was significantly higher in the contacts who had been sleeping in the same room as the patient. Rifampicin reduced the carrier rate from 20 per cent to five per cent within two weeks of treatment and a further drop of 2·5 per cent was observed four weeks later. The corresponding results for sulphadimidine were 14, 14 and 10 per cent. More than 90 per cent of the strains isolated were resistant to 50 μg/ml of sulphadiazine in vitro . All of the strains initially isolated were sensitive to rifampicin, but of the 11 strains isolated after treatment with this drug four were partially resistant.