Tonsillectomies are associated with an increased risk of meningococcal carriage

Background Neisseria meningitidis is a commensal organism with the potential to cause life-threatening disease. Colonisation is most common in adolescence and young adulthood. Various social factors have been associated with an increased risk of meningococcal carriage, but less is known about host factors that may influence the carriage status. Tonsillectomies have been shown to alter the pharyngeal microflora. This study assessed whether a history of tonsillectomy affects the risk of meningococcal colonisation.