| 1. |
- Hadad, Ronza, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
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First National Genomic Epidemiological Study of Neisseria gonorrhoeae Strains Spreading Across Sweden in 2016
- 2022
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Microbiology. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 1664-302X. ; 12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The increasing transmission and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a global health concern with worrying trends of decreasing susceptibility to also the last-line extended-spectrum cephalosporin (ESC) ceftriaxone. A dramatic increase of reported gonorrhea cases has been observed in Sweden from 2016 and onward. The aim of the present study was to comprehensively investigate the genomic epidemiology of all cultured N. gonorrhoeae isolates in Sweden during 2016, in conjunction with phenotypic AMR and clinical and epidemiological data of patients. In total, 1279 isolates were examined. Etest and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) were performed, and epidemiological data obtained from the Public Health Agency of Sweden. Overall, 51.1%, 1.7%, and 1.3% resistance to ciprofloxacin, cefixime, and azithromycin, respectively, was found. No isolates were resistant to ceftriaxone, however, 9.3% of isolates showed a decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone and 10.5% to cefixime. In total, 44 penA alleles were found of which six were mosaic (n = 92). Using the typing schemes of MLST, NG-MAST, and NG-STAR; 133, 422, and 280 sequence types, respectively, and 93 NG-STAR clonal complexes were found. The phylogenomic analysis revealed two main lineages (A and B) with lineage A divided into two main sublineages (A1 and A2). Resistance and decreased susceptibility to ESCs and azithromycin and associated AMR determinants, such as mosaic penA and mosaic mtrD, were predominantly found in sublineage A2. Resistance to cefixime and azithromycin was more prevalent among heterosexuals and MSM, respectively, and both were predominantly spread through domestic transmission. Continuous surveillance of the spread and evolution of N. gonorrhoeae, including phenotypic AMR testing and WGS, is essential for enhanced knowledge regarding the dynamic evolution of N. gonorrhoeae and gonorrhea epidemiology.
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| 2. |
- Herrmann, Björn, et al.
(författare)
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Emergence and Spread of Chlamydia trachomatis Variant, Sweden
- 2008
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Ingår i: Emerging Infectious Diseases. - : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). - 1080-6040 .- 1080-6059. ; 14:9, s. 1462-1465
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A variant of Chlamydia trachomatis that had escaped detection by commonly used systems was discovered in Sweden in 2006. In a nationwide study, we found that it is now prevalent across Sweden, irrespective of the detection system used. Genetic analysis by multilocus sequence typing identified a predominant variant, suggesting recent emergence.
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| 3. |
- Kader, Manzur, et al.
(författare)
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Time elapsed from onset of symptoms to diagnosis of gonorrhoea in Swedish patients, 1999-2009
- 2014
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Ingår i: Asian Journal of Medical Sciences. - Stockholm : Karolinska Institutet, Dept of Global Public Health. - 2091-0576 .- 2467-9100.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Gonococcal infection remains an important public health problem worldwide. The incidence of reported gonorrhoea cases in Sweden raised by 32%, from 5.9 to 7.8 cases per 100,000 in 2001 to 2008.The aim of this study is to estimate the lag time or time elapsed between onset of symptoms and diagnosis of gonorrhoea, and to identify the factors associated with diagnostic delay in a sample of reported gonorrhoea cases in Sweden. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using all reported gonorrhoea cases at the Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control (SMI) from the time period 1999-2009. Total number of cases included in final analysis was 2161. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, independent t-test and multiple linear regression analysis were applied for data analysis. Results: The mean lag time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis of gonorrhoea was 12.3 ± 18.8 days. There was a significant association of lag time with sex, region, type of clinics and type of specimen and year of diagnosis. In multivariate analysis with adjusted model, type of specimen was found to have independent effect on lag time and there was a significant interaction observed between region and sex indicating difference between sexes was due to difference in regions. Conclusion: The result of our study revealed a significant delay in establishing a diagnosis in Gonorrhoea patient sample in Sweden. The variables influencing this delay in diagnosis should be addressed to shorten the lag time leading to an early diagnosis and a proper treatment in our patients. However, more research needs to be carried out in this area to better understand the factors at work.
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| 4. |
- Veličko, Inga, et al.
(författare)
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Changes in the trend of sexually acquired chlamydia infections in Sweden and the role of testing : a time series analysis
- 2021
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Ingår i: Sexually Transmitted Diseases. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0148-5717 .- 1537-4521. ; 48:5, s. 329-334
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background We investigated the notification trends of sexually acquired chlamydia (chlamydia) and its association with testing in Sweden before (1992–2004) and after (2009–2018) the discovery of a new variant of Chlamydia trachomatis (nvCT).Methods We applied monthly time series analysis to study chlamydia trends and annual time series to study chlamydia rates adjusted for testing. We analyzed incidence nationally and by county group (based on able and unable to detect nvCT at time of discovery).Results We present data on 606,000 cases of chlamydia and 9.9 million persons tested. We found a U-shaped chlamydia trend during the period 1992–2004, with an overall increase of 83.7% from 1996 onward. The period 2009–2018 began with a stable trend at a high incidence level followed by a decrease of 19.7% during the period 2015–2018. Peaks were seen in autumn and through during winter and summer. Similar results were observed by groups of county, although with varying levels of increase and decrease in both periods. Furthermore, increased testing volume was associated with increased chlamydia rates during the first period (P = 0.019) but not the second period.Conclusions Our results showed that chlamydia trends during the period 2009–2018 were not driven by testing, as they were during the period 1992–2004. This suggests less biased notified chlamydia rates and thus possibly a true decrease in chlamydia incidence rates. It is important to adjust case rates for testing intensity, and future research should target other potential factors influencing chlamydia rates.
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| 5. |
- Veličko, Inga
(författare)
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Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Sweden : time trends, risk factors, and prevalence
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia) infection is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI), with an estimated 127 million new cases occurring every year worldwide. Due to the asymptomatic nature of the infection, individuals may carry it for a long time and transmit without knowing about it. Untreated chlamydia may lead to serious sequelae of the reproductive tract, causing pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pain, ectopic pregnancy, and tubal factor infertility. Thus, early detection of infected individuals via testing (opportunistic testing), treatment, and partner notification may prevent further transmission of infection. In this thesis, we aimed to gain an extended understanding of chlamydia epidemiology at an individual and population-based level. The thesis is based on the data from a cohort study in the urban STI clinic, as well as chlamydia cases and tests reported to the national infectious diseases register SmiNet-2 at the Public Health Agency of Sweden. We employed various methodologies to answer our study questions. In Studies I and II, we used data from a cohort study, which we analysed cross-sectionally. We found that being 20-24 years old, having 6 or more sexual partners during the previous 12 months, using alcohol before sex, reporting all type of sexual activities during the last sexual contact, and testing due to partner notification were independently statistically significantly associated with increased risk to test positive for chlamydia. Furthermore, we identified four groups (latent classes) of behaviour patterns among men and three among women in our cohort. The classes characterized by high-risk sexual behaviour were associated with statistically significantly increased 2-fold odds for lifetime repeated testing for chlamydia among men and women. Women in the high-risk behaviour class had also 2-fold increased odds to test repeatedly during the previous 12 months. This indicates that individuals at higher risk for chlamydia acquisition had adhered to the public health messages to test if at risk for infection. In Study III, we used time series analysis to explore how chlamydia trends changed over time, by comparing two periods: before and after the discovery of a new variant of Chlamydia trachomatis in Sweden. We analysed data nationally and by two types of counties, grouped according to their ability to identify new variant at the time of discovery. We also adjusted chlamydia trends to the testing intensity. We found that chlamydia trends were increasing since the mid-1990s up to 2004, as was testing, suggesting that chlamydia notification trends were driven by the testing. On the other hand, during 2009-2018 chlamydia trends were decreasing, despite increasing testing intensity, suggesting that chlamydia cases were not driven by testing, and most probably, these trends reflect true chlamydia incidence rates in the population. In Study IV, we continued to explore the reason for the decreasing chlamydia trends during 2009-2018 by estimating chlamydia prevalence via mathematical modelling. Indeed, we estimated a decrease in chlamydia prevalence among 15-29 year old men and women during this period, which supports our hypothesis. In conclusion, the risk factors independently associated with chlamydia diagnosis are in line with previous studies. Furthermore, our results suggest that individuals in the high-risk sexual behaviour latent classes are more likely to test repeatedly for chlamydia, suggesting absorption of public health messages. Moreover, chlamydia trends were not driven by testing intensity during 2009-2018, suggesting a true decrease in chlamydia incidence rates in the population. By estimating the decrease in chlamydia prevalence during this period, we were able to support the hypothesis on the reason for observed declining chlamydia trends. Prevention work should be continued to reach asymptomatic individuals by testing and prevention messages. Further studies should investigate the role of other components of chlamydia control strategy on chlamydia trends to disentangle their input and plan for possible future alterations.
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| 6. |
- Velicko, Inga, et al.
(författare)
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Patterns of sexual behaviour associated with repeated chlamydia testing and infection in men and women : a latent class analysis
- 2022
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Ingår i: BMC Public Health. - : Springer Nature. - 1471-2458. ; 22:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Adolescents and young adults are at higher risk of acquiring Chlamydia trachomatis infection (chlamydia), so testing is promoted in these populations. Studies have shown that re-testing for chlamydia is common amongst them. We investigated how sexual risk behaviour profiles are associated with repeated testing for chlamydia. Methods We used baseline data from a cohort of 2814 individuals recruited at an urban STI -clinic. We applied latent class (LC) analysis using 9 manifest variables on sexual behaviour and substance use self-reported by the study participants. We fitted ordered logistic regression to investigate the association of LC membership with the outcomes repeated testing during the past 12 months and lifetime repeated testing for chlamydia. Models were fit separately for men and women. Results We identified four LCs for men and three LCs for women with increasing gradient of risky sexual behaviour. The two classes with the highest risk among men were associated with lifetime repeated testing for chlamydia: adjOR = 2.26 (95%CI: 1.50-3.40) and adjOR = 3.03 (95%CI: 1.93-4.74) as compared with the class with lowest risk. In women, the class with the highest risk was associated with increased odds of repeated lifetime testing (adjOR =1.85 (95%CI: 1.24-2.76)) and repeated testing during past 12 months (adjOR = 1.72 (95%CI: 1.16-2.54)). An association with chlamydia positive test at the time of the study and during the participant's lifetime was only found in the male highest risk classes. Conclusion Prevention messages with regard to testing for chlamydia after unprotected sexual contact with new/casual partners seem to reach individuals in highest risk behaviour classes who are more likely to test repeatedly. Further prevention efforts should involve potentially more tailored sex-specific interventions taking into consideration risk behaviour patterns.
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| 7. |
- Velicko, Inga, et al.
(författare)
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Sexual and testing behaviour associated with Chlamydia trachomatis infection : a cohort study in an STI clinic in Sweden
- 2016
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 6:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Genital chlamydia infection (chlamydia) is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection (STI) in Sweden. To guide prevention needs, we aimed to investigate factors associated with chlamydia. Methods: A cohort of visitors aged 20-40 years at an urban STI clinic in Sweden was recruited. Behavioural data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Self-sampled specimens were tested for chlamydia by a DNA amplification assay. Statistically significant (p<0.05) and epidemiologically relevant covariates were entered in a multivariate Poisson model adjusted for potential confounders (age and gender). Backward stepwise elimination produced a final model. Multiple imputation was used to account for missing values. Results: Out of 2814 respondents, 1436 were men with a chlamydia positivity rate of 12.6% vs 8.9% in women. Lifetime testing for chlamydia and HIV was high (82% and 60%, respectively). Factors significantly associated with chlamydia were: 20-24 years old (adjusted risk ratio (ARR)=2.10, 95% CI 1.21 to 3.65); testing reason: contact with a chlamydia case (ARR=6.55, 95% CI 4.77 to 8.98) and having symptoms (ARR=2.19, 95% CI 1.48 to 3.24); 6-10 sexual partners (ARR=1.53, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.21); last sexual activity 'vaginal sex and oral sex and anal sex and petting' (ARR=1.84, 95% CI 1.09 to 3.10); alcohol use before sex (ARR=1.98, 95% CI 1.10 to 3.57); men with symptoms (ARR=2.09, 95% CI 1.38 to 3.18); tested for chlamydia (ARR=0.72, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.94). Conclusions: Risk factors associated with chlamydia were consistent with previous reports in similar settings and suggest no major changes over time. Increased risk for chlamydia infection associated with high-risk behaviour (eg, alcohol use, increased number of sexual partners) supports the need for behavioural interventions in this population such as promotion of safer sex behaviour (condom use) and testing.
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