[Tests for Neisseria meningitidis in adolescents and adults (recruits)].

No N. meningitidis strain was isolated from 168 children 14 years old. However, among 17-19 years old young people 14% meningococcal carriage rate was demonstrated. In three surveillance trials performed in military units in spring 1998 and autumn 1998 and 1999; 81, 225 and 153 isolates of N. meningitidis, respectively were obtained. A change in N. meningitidis carrier status was observed. At the autumn study, two times more N. meningitidis intermittent carriers were found than in the spring investigations. Among these population we found short-term and long-term carriers--last day of the longest trial--162 day. Meningococcal carriage rate increases among recruits in overcrowded living conditions.