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Meningococcal bacterium

20083

2

Can you be a carrier of meningococcal without knowing it (carry it, pass it on yet do not actually contract meningitis yourself)?

Reply 1

Seoid

I think so. As far as I remember, the majority of people actually carry the bacteria in their throats, and it's only in certain cases that the person gets infected (I presume when their immune defences are down).

Reply 2

dh00001

16

yes you can. apparently up to 10% of the population is a carrier. iirc the bacterium is in a different state when it is being carried, a harmless version if you will. i think some mutation is required for it to become invasive but its been a while since i studied it im afraid

Reply 3

LazyJaney

yep

For students in halls, I think the percentage of people carrying it is even higher than 10% (I'm not sure why) but randomly I think that if you carry the bacteria you are less likely to get meningitis. It's those who get coughed on/kissed etc and already have weakened immune systems who are most at risk

Reply 4

Jennybean

13

LazyJaney

yep

For students in halls, I think the percentage of people carrying it is even higher than 10% (I'm not sure why) but randomly I think that if you carry the bacteria you are less likely to get meningitis. It's those who get coughed on/kissed etc and already have weakened immune systems who are most at risk

It's not really random if you think about it! If you're carrying the bacteria but not contracting meningitis then your immune system will be working hard to create antibodies to ward off that particular bacterium. Hence you'll develop resistance.

Reply 5

20083

OP

2

So it is possible for someone to carry it home from halls and pass it on, therefore making someone else ill?

Reply 6

Jennybean

13

Yes. But it's pretty difficult knowing whom you might be about to make ill.

Reply 7

LazyJaney

I'm not from a medical background, so some of the med students here may correct me - but I think the bacteria can only survive for a few seconds outside the body. I don't think you should be worried about transporting it home - there are plenty of people everywhere carrying the bacteria, the chance of any of them mutating is tiny.

You should be most cautious at uni, living in halls, during winter, if you've had lots of colds/coughs recently as that's the time (as well as being a toddler) when you're most likely to get meningitis

Reply 8

20083

OP

2

LazyJaney

I'm not from a medical background, so some of the med students here may correct me - but I think the bacteria can only survive for a few seconds outside the body. I don't think you should be worried about transporting it home - there are plenty of people everywhere carrying the bacteria, the chance of any of them mutating is tiny.

You should be most cautious at uni, living in halls, during winter, if you've had lots of colds/coughs recently as that's the time (as well as being a toddler) when you're most likely to get meningitis

Yeah, at uni we've had one die and a few others taken into hospital with it just this week.

Reply 9

*Joanna*

12

dh00001

yes you can. apparently up to 10% of the population is a carrier. iirc the bacterium is in a different state when it is being carried, a harmless version if you will. i think some mutation is required for it to become invasive but its been a while since i studied it im afraid

It's when it gets into the blood, instead of staying harmlessly in the throat, that it causes problems. I would imagine it also has a lot to do with the immune status of the individual as to whether their body can keep the bacteria at bay- so anything that compromises the immune system, or the balance of commensal bacteria could cause the menigococcal bacteria to enter the blood.

Reply 10

RetiredAccount89

18

Jennybean

It's not really random if you think about it! If you're carrying the bacteria but not contracting meningitis then your immune system will be working hard to create antibodies to ward off that particular bacterium. Hence you'll develop resistance.

So why in that case would doctors give medicine to close contacts of people who contract meningtis? That would surely be stripping them of their protection?

Reply 11

Wangers

16

Jamie

So why in that case would doctors give medicine to close contacts of people who contract meningtis? That would surely be stripping them of their protection?

I think I must have misunderstood you - surely the intervention is to tide over the period for the primary Cell mediated activity until high affinity antibodies can be produced rapidly in the beta phase? (phase being regions on the classic Ab production graph from first contact)

Reply 12

Jennybean

13

Jamie

So why in that case would doctors give medicine to close contacts of people who contract meningtis? That would surely be stripping them of their protection?

Because as I've already said, it's pretty difficult knowing whose immune system is going to be up to the task. It's a preventative measure, just in case. Come on, I know you medics think you're waaay above us vets but you're not going to start trying to tell me that it's a myth that some people can build up their own resistance to certain pathogens without the need for medical intervention? :rolleyes:

Removing the meningococcal bacteria isn't going to remove protection from those who wouldn't have been able to produce the protection in the first place...

Reply 13

RetiredAccount89

18

"but you're not going to start trying to tell me that it's a myth that some people can build up their own resistance to certain pathogens without the need for medical intervention?"

No, I was asking a question, not being a smart arse.
As far as I know (and i know alot) there is sod all evidence behind giving any prophylaxis to contacts, other than some shoddy study done in WW2.

Wangers - soooo irrelecant, but I did laugh when i read that post. Reminded me so much of my 3rd year at cambridge doing immunology and virology.