Recent studies have identified HIV infection as a potential risk factor for invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), suggesting that HIV-infected individuals could benefit from meningococcal vaccination to reduce their risk of this rare, but severe and potentially fatal infection. In the United Kingdom, as in most industrialised countries, HIV is not considered a risk factor for IMD.

IMD incidence and relative risk by age group and meningococcal capsular group in HIV-positive compared with HIV-uninfected individuals was estimated through data linkage of national datasets in England between 2011 and 2013.

IMD incidence among persons diagnosed with HIV was 6.6 per 100,000 compared to 1.5 per 100,000 among HIV-negative individuals, with a relative risk of 4.5 (95 % CI, 2.7–7.5). All but one case occurred in adults aged 16–64 years, who had a 22.7-fold (95 % CI, 12.4–41.6; P <0.001) increased risk compared with the HIV-negative adults. IMD risk by capsular group varied with age. HIV-positive children and adolescents had a higher risk of meningococcal group B disease, while adults were at increased risk of groups C, W and Y disease. Most HIV-positive individuals had been born in Africa, had acquired HIV through heterosexual contact, and were known to be HIV-positive and receiving antiretroviral treatment at IMD diagnosis. The most common clinical presentation was septicemia and, although intensive care admission was common, none died of IMD.

HIV-positive children and adults are at significantly increased risk of IMD, providing an evidence base for policy makers to consider HIV as a risk factor for meningococcal vaccination.