Preventing meningococcal infection in college students.

The incidence of invasive meningococcal disease in adolescents and young adults of high school and college age has recently increased in the United States. Recent studies indicate that certain groups of college students are at increased risk. This has led to the recent Advisory Committee Immunization Practices recommendation that college freshman dormitory residents be provided information about meningococcal infection and the benefits of vaccination. Future studies will need to focus on the potential vaccine prevention of the increased risk of meningococcal infection in persons of high school age, particularly as new conjugate meningococcal vaccines become available.