Sulphonamide-Resistant Meningococci after Sulphonamide Prophylaxis among Naval Recruits in Norway

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Abstract
In February 1969, 2 cases of meningitis in a naval training centre in Norway were caused by sulphonamide-resistant meningococci group A and B, respectively. According to instructions, sulphonamide prophylaxis was given at once. Two groups of recruits, platoon I, consisting of 62 men, and platoon II, which comprised 61 men including the two patients, were treated with a total dose of 2 and 18 g of sulphonamides per man, respectively. Pharyngeal cultures were taken 4–10 days after completion of the prophylaxis. Among the recruits in platoon I, 45.2% were carriers of meningococci, and 78.6% of the isolated strains were found to be sulphonamide-resistant. In platoon II the carrier rate was 54.2%, and no strain sensitive to sulphonamides was found. Group Y was the most frequent serogroup among the sensitive strains, while groups A and B dominated amcng the resistant ones, accounting for 66.0 and 26.4%, respectively, of the total number of resistant strains. Also sulphonamide-resistant group Y and Z meningococci were found. The findings indicate that sulphonamide prophylaxis in connection with cases of meningococcal meningitis should be abandoned.