Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) and Neisseria meningitidis carriage in Asia. A Scoping review protocol

Not much is currently known about the burden of IMD in many parts of Asia. Although the incidence is considered low, the presence of high-risk populations within this region and the environmental similarities between parts of this region and the AMB, increases the likelihood that epidemiological “hotspots” may be unreported. Some of these high-risk populations are soldiers, inmates in prisons, students in dormitories and people returning from Hajj. These groups are likely to have a higher risk than the average carriage rate of N. Meningitidis and would benefit from vaccination with conjugate vaccines. Therefore, the present study undertakes a scoping review to map and summarize the available literature on the epidemiology and gaps in knowledge of N. meningitidis carriage and IMD/serotypes in adults in Asia under conditions of congregation, as well as to identify potential risk factors for N. meningitidis carriage and invasive disease.