| 1. |
- Albinsson, Bo, et al.
(författare)
-
Seroprevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus and vaccination coverage of tick-borne encephalitis, Sweden, 2018 to 2019
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Euro surveillance : bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin. - : European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC). - 1560-7917 .- 1025-496X. ; 29:2
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundIn Sweden, information on seroprevalence of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in the population, including vaccination coverage and infection, is scattered. This is largely due to the absence of a national tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccination registry, scarcity of previous serological studies and use of serological methods not distinguishing between antibodies induced by vaccination and infection. Furthermore, the number of notified TBE cases in Sweden has continued to increase in recent years despite increased vaccination.AimThe aim was to estimate the TBEV seroprevalence in Sweden.MethodsIn 2018 and 2019, 2,700 serum samples from blood donors in nine Swedish regions were analysed using a serological method that can distinguish antibodies induced by vaccination from antibodies elicited by infection. The regions were chosen to reflect differences in notified TBE incidence.ResultsThe overall seroprevalence varied from 9.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 6.6-13.6%) to 64.0% (95% CI: 58.3-69.4%) between regions. The proportion of vaccinated individuals ranged from 8.7% (95% CI: 5.8-12.6) to 57.0% (95% CI: 51.2-62.6) and of infected from 1.0% (95% CI: 0.2-3.0) to 7.0% (95% CI: 4.5-10.7). Thus, more than 160,000 and 1,600,000 individuals could have been infected by TBEV and vaccinated against TBE, respectively. The mean manifestation index was 3.1%.ConclusionA difference was observed between low- and high-incidence TBE regions, on the overall TBEV seroprevalence and when separated into vaccinated and infected individuals. The estimated incidence and manifestation index argue that a large proportion of TBEV infections are not diagnosed.
|
|
| 2. |
- Skoog, G., et al.
(författare)
-
Repeated nationwide point-prevalence surveys of antimicrobial use in Swedish hospitals: data for actions 2003-2010
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Eurosurveillance. - : EUR CENTRE DIS PREVENTION & CONTROL. - 1560-7917 .- 1025-496X. ; 21:25, s. 13-21
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study sought to analyse antimicrobial pressure, indications for treatment, and compliance with treatment recommendations and to identify possible problem areas where inappropriate use could be improved through interventions by the network of the local Swedish Strategic Programme Against Antibiotic Resistance (Strama) groups. Five point-prevalence surveys were performed in between 49 and 72 participating hospitals from 2003 to 2010. Treatments were recorded for 19 predefined diagnosis groups and whether they were for community-acquired infection, hospital-acquired infection, or prophylaxis. Approximately one-third of inpatients were treated with antimicrobials. Compliance with guidelines for treatment of community-acquired pneumonia with narrow-spectrum penicillin was 17.0% during baseline 2003-2004, and significantly improved to 24.2% in 2010. Corresponding figures for quinolone use in uncomplicated cystitis in women were 28.5% in 2003-2004, and significantly improved, decreasing to 15.3% in 2010. The length of surgical prophylaxis improved significantly when data for a single dose and 1 day were combined, from 56.3% in 2003-2004 to 66.6% in 2010. Improved compliance was possibly the effect of active local feedback, repeated surveys, and increasing awareness of antimicrobial resistance. Strama groups are important for successful local implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs in Sweden.
|
|
| 3. |
- Unemo, Magnus, 1970-, et al.
(författare)
-
Finnish new variant of Chlamydia trachomatis escaping detection in the Aptima Combo 2 assay also present in Örebro County, Sweden, May 2019
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Eurosurveillance. - : European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. - 1560-7917 .- 1025-496X. ; 24:26
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We identified the first two cases of the Finnish new variant of Chlamydia trachomatis (F-nvCT) beyond Finland in two clinical urogenital specimens in Örebro County, Sweden. These Aptima Combo 2 assay-negative specimens were Aptima Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) assay positive and had the characteristic C1515T mutation in the 23S rRNA gene. From 22 March to 31 May 2019, 1.3% (2/158) of the CT-positive cases in Örebro County were missed because of the F-nvCT. International awareness, investigations and actions are essential.
|
|
| 4. |
- Weibull Wärnberg, Anna, et al.
(författare)
-
The molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 in Sweden 1996 to 2022, and the influence of migration from Ukraine.
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Euro surveillance : bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin. - 1560-7917. ; 28:48
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundThe global distribution of HIV-1 subtypes is evolving, which is reflected in the Swedish HIV cohort. The subtype HIV-1A6, which may be prone to developing resistance to cabotegravir, is the most common subtype in Ukraine.AimWe aimed to examine trends in HIV-1 subtype distribution in Sweden, with a special focus on HIV-1A6, and to describe the virology, demography and treatment of Ukrainian people living with HIV (PLWH) who migrated to Sweden in 2022.MethodsData about PLWH in Sweden are included in a national database (InfCareHIV). We used the online tool COMET to establish HIV-1 subtypes and the Stanford database to define drug resistance mutations. We investigated the relation between virological characteristics and demographic data.ResultsThe early epidemic was predominated by HIV-1 subtype B infections in people born in Sweden. After 1990, the majority of new PLWH in Sweden were PLWH migrating to Sweden, resulting in an increasingly diverse epidemic. In 2022, HIV-1A6 had become the sixth most common subtype in Sweden and 98 of the 431 new PLWH that were registered in Sweden came from Ukraine. We detected HIV RNA in plasma of 32 Ukrainian patients (34%), of whom 17 were previously undiagnosed, 10 had interrupted therapy and five were previously diagnosed but not treated. We found HIV-1A6 in 23 of 24 sequenced patients.ConclusionThe molecular HIV epidemiology in Sweden continues to diversify and PLWH unaware of their HIV status and predominance of HIV-1A6 should be considered when arranging care directed at PLWH from Ukraine.
|
|
| 5. |
- Luijt, D., et al.
(författare)
-
Most but not all laboratories can detect the recently emerged Neisseria gonorrhoeae porA mutants - results from the QCMD 2013 N. gonorrhoeae external quality assessment programme
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Eurosurveillance. - : European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). - 1025-496X .- 1560-7917. ; 19:8, s. 2-5
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We describe the results of the Quality Control for Molecular Diagnostics 2013 Neisseria gonorrhoeae external quality assessment programme that included an N. gonorrhoeae strain harbouring an N. meningitidis porA gene which causes false-negative results in molecular diagnostic assays targeting the gonococcal porA pseudogene. Enhanced awareness of the international transmission of such gonococcal strains is needed to avoid false-negative results in both in-house and commercial molecular diagnostic assays used in laboratories worldwide, but particularly in Europe.In recent years, false-negative test results using PCRs targeting the Neisseria gonorrhoeae porA pseudogene have been reported from Australia, Scotland, Sweden and England [1-4]. Further investigations revealed that the gonococcal strains were not clonal, but all had replaced large segments or their entire N. gonorrhoeae porA pseudogene with an N. meningitidis porA gene.This report describes the results of the Quality Control for Molecular Diagnostics (QCMD) 2013 N. gonorrhoeae External Quality Assessment (EQA) programme. It included an N. gonorrhoeae strain containing an N. meningitidis porA gene which gives rise to false-negative results in molecular diagnostic assays targeting the gonococcal porA pseudogene. QCMD (www.qcmd.org) is an independent international organisation which provides a wide range of molecular EQA services in the field of infectious diseases to over 2,000 participants in over 100 countries.
|
|
| 6. |
- Strömdahl, Susanne, et al.
(författare)
-
A systematic review of evidence to inform HIV prevention interventions among men who have sex with men in Europe.
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Eurosurveillance. - : European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC). - 1025-496X .- 1560-7917. ; 20:15
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An estimated 42% of all newly diagnosed HIV cases in Europe in 2013 were transmitted during sex between men. This review was performed to identify and describe studies evaluating the efficacy and effectiveness of HIV prevention interventions among men who have sex with men (MSM), in relation to implementation data from European settings. A systematic search was performed individually for 24 interventions.Data were extracted from studies including efficacy or implementation data from European settings,appraised for efficacy, implementation and plausibility, and assigned a grade (1-4) according to the Highest Attainable Standard of Evidence (HASTE)framework. Four interventions (condom use, peer outreach,peer-led groups, and using universal coverage of antiretroviral treatment and treatment as prevention)were assigned the highest HASTE grade, 1. Another four interventions were assigned 2a for probable recommendation, including voluntary counseling and testing for HIV, using condom-compatible lubricant,using post-exposure prophylaxis, and individual counselling for MSM living with HIV. In addition, seven interventions were assigned a grade of 2b, for possible recommendation. Encouragingly, 15 interventions were graded to be strongly, probably or possibly recommended.In the relatively resource-rich European setting, there is an opportunity to provide global leadership with regard to the regional scale-up of comprehensive HIV prevention interventions for MSM.
|
|
| 7. |
- Törös, B., et al.
(författare)
-
Surveillance of invasive Neisseria meningitidis with a serogroup Y update, Sweden 2010 to 2012
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Eurosurveillance. - : European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). - 1025-496X .- 1560-7917. ; 19:42, s. 25-33
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An increase of invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y has been noted in Sweden since 2005, and to a lower extent throughout Europe. The present study describes the epidemiology of invasive N. meningitidis isolates in Sweden in the period between 2010 and 2012, with a focus on serogroup Y. We also aimed to find an optimal molecular typing scheme for both surveillance and outbreak investigations. All invasive N. meningitidis isolates in Sweden during the study period (n=208) were genetically characterised. Serogroup Y predominated with 22/57, 31/61 and 44/90 of all invasive isolates (incidence 0.23, 0.33 and 0.46 per 100,000 population) in 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively. In each of these years, 15/22, 22/31 and 19/44 of serogroup Y isolates were genetically clonal (Y: P1.5-2,10-1,36-2: F4-1: ST-23(cc23), 'porB allele 3-36, fHbp allele 25 and penA allele 22). Our findings further support those of others that currently recommended FetA typing could be replaced by FHbp. Moreover, in line with a previous study that we conducted, the current results indicate that highly variable multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (HV-MLVA) can be used as a first-hand rapid method for small outbreak investigations.
|
|
| 8. |
- Afset, J. E., et al.
(författare)
-
Phylogeographical pattern of Francisella tularensis in a nationwide outbreak of tularaemia in Norway, 2011
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Eurosurveillance. - 1025-496X .- 1560-7917. ; 20:19, s. 9-14
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 2011, a nationwide outbreak of tularaemia occurred in Norway with 180 recorded cases. It was associated with the largest peak in lemming density seen in 40 years. Francisella tularensis was isolated from 18 patients. To study the geographical distribution of F. tularensis genotypes in Norway and correlate genotype with epidemiology and clinical presentation, we performed whole genome sequencing of patient isolates. All 18 genomes from the outbreak carried genetic signatures of F. tularensis subsp. holarctica and were assigned to genetic clades using canonical single nucleotide polymorphisms. Ten isolates were assigned to major genetic clade B.6 (subclade B.7), seven to clade B.12, and one to clade B.4. The B.6 subclade B.7 was most common in southern and central Norway, while clade B.12 was evenly distributed between the southern, central and northern parts of the country. There was no association between genotype and clinical presentation of tularaemia, time of year or specimen type. We found extensive sequence similarity with F. tularensis subsp. holarctica genomes from high-endemic tularaemia areas in Sweden. Finding nearly identical genomes across large geographical distances in Norway and Sweden imply a life cycle of the bacterium without replication between the outbreaks and raise new questions about long-range migration mechanisms.
|
|
| 9. |
- de Graaf, M., et al.
(författare)
-
Emergence of a novel GII.17 norovirus - End of the GII.4 era?
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Eurosurveillance. - : EUR CENTRE DIS PREVENTION and CONTROL. - 1025-496X .- 1560-7917. ; 20:26, s. 21178-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the winter of 2014/15 a novel GII.P17-GII.17 norovirus strain (GII.17 Kawasaki 2014) emerged, as a major cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks in China and Japan. Since their emergence these novel GII.P17-GII.17 viruses have replaced the previously dominant GII.4 genotype Sydney 2012 variant in some areas in Asia but were only detected in a limited number of cases on other continents. This perspective provides an overview of the available information on GII.17 viruses in order to gain insight in the viral and host characteristics of this norovirus genotype. We further discuss the emergence of this novel GII.P17-GII.17 norovirus in context of current knowledge on the epidemiology of noroviruses. It remains to be seen if the currently dominant norovirus strain GII.4 Sydney 2012 will be replaced in other parts of the world. Nevertheless, the public health community and surveillance systems need to be prepared in case of a potential increase of norovirus activity in the next seasons caused by this novel GII.P17-GII.17 norovirus.
|
|
| 10. |
- Golparian, Daniel, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
-
Four treatment failures of pharyngeal gonorrhoea with ceftriaxone (500 mg) or cefotaxime (500 mg), Sweden, 2013 and 2014
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Eurosurveillance. - : European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). - 1025-496X .- 1560-7917. ; 19:30, s. 2-5
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We describe four cases in Sweden of verified treatment failures of pharyngeal gonorrhoea with ceftriaxone (500 mg; n=3) or cefotaxime (500 mg; n=1) monotherapy. All the ceftriaxone treatment failures were caused by the internationally spreading multidrug-resistant gonococcal NG-MAST genogroup 1407 clone. Increased awareness of treatment failures is crucial particularly when antimicrobial monotherapy is used. Frequent test of cure and appropriate verification/falsification of suspected treatment failures, as well as implementation of recommended dual antimicrobial therapy are imperative.
|
|
