Cluster of serogroup C meningococcal disease associated with attendance at a party.

BACKGROUND

An unexplained increase has occurred in the incidence of invasive meningococcal disease in adolescents and young adults.

METHODS

We investigated a cluster of serogroup C meningococcal disease in 3 previously healthy young adults who had attended a party in Maryland. Molecular subtyping was done on the isolates from the 3 cluster cases and 4 control isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The only common exposure was attendance at the party, where a large number of people reportedly smoked tobacco or marijuana and/or drank alcohol.

RESULTS

The PFGE analysis of the 3 case isolates showed identical molecular subtypes.

CONCLUSION

This investigation strongly suggests that transmission of the cluster strain occurred at the party. Transmission may have occurred in part as a result of the recently described risk factors of binge drinking and smoking. Taken together, these findings suggest that some of the recent increase in invasive meningococcal disease may be due to modifiable risk factors.