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- Gotz, HM, et al.
(author)
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A whirlpool associated outbreak of Pontiac fever at a hotel in Northern Sweden
- 2001
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In: Epidemiology and infection. - : Cambridge University Press (CUP). - 0950-2688 .- 1469-4409. ; 126:2, s. 241-247
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In April 1999, an outbreak of Pontiac fever occurred at a hotel in Northern Sweden. A retrospective cohort study to find the source and define the extent of the outbreak was carried out among 530 Swedish and Norwegian guests. Twenty-nine epidemiological cases (8 % of 378 responders) aged 21–57 years were identified. Antibodies against Legionella micdadei were detected in 17 of 27 tested cases and 3 other symptomatic persons. Visiting the whirlpool area was identified as the sole risk factor (RR 86; 95 % CI 21–352) and infected cases were confined to visitors to this area over three successive days. The attack rate was 71 % (27/38) and 24 cases (83 %) used the whirlpool. Environmental sampling was negative for Legionella sp. But epidemiological investigation strongly suggests that the whirlpool was the source of the outbreak. The possibility of serious legionella infections underlines the importance of strict maintenance practices to maintain hygiene of whirlpools.
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| 5. |
- Palmgren, Helena, 1955-, et al.
(author)
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Salmonella in sub-Antarctica : low heterogeneity in salmonella serotypes in South Georgian seals and birds
- 2000
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In: Epidemiology and Infection. - : Cambridge University Press. - 0950-2688 .- 1469-4409. ; 125:2, s. 257-262
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The number of human visitors to Antarctica is increasing rapidly, and with it a risk of introducing infectious organisms to native animals. To study the occurrence of salmonella serotypes in sub- Antarctic wildlife, faecal samples were collected from gentoo penguins, macaroni penguins, gray-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses and Antarctic fur seals on Bird Island in the South Georgian archipelago during the austral summer of 1996 and 1998. In 1996, S. havana, S. typhimurium and S. enteritidis were isolated from 7% of gentoo penguins and 4% of fur seals. In 1998, however, 22% of fur seals were found to be infected with S. havana, S. enteritidis and S. newport. All isolates, except one, showed identical pulsed-field gel electrophoresis-patterns within each serotype, irrespective of sampling year and animal reservoir. No significant antibiotic resistance was found. The very low heterogeneity in the salmonella isolates found could either indicate a high genetic adaptation of the bacteria to the environment or a recent introduction of salmonella into the area.
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| 6. |
- Tham, Wilhelm, 1951-, et al.
(author)
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A listeriosis patient infected with two different Listeria monocytogenes strains
- 2002
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In: Epidemiology and Infection. - 0950-2688 .- 1469-4409. ; 128:1, s. 105-106
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Normally, only one isolate of Listeria monocytogenes from a case of listeriosis is subjected to characterization. Here we show that two isolates from different sites of the body were not the same strain. Such a phenomenon may not have any clinical relevance, although it may confuse the epidemiologist trying to match infection source with infection target.
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| 9. |
- Evengård, B, et al.
(author)
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Low incidence of toxoplasma infection during pregnancy and in newborn in Sweden
- 2001
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In: Epidemiology and Infection. - 0950-2688. ; 127:1, s. 121-127
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To estimate the burden of disease due to congenital toxoplasmosis in Sweden the incidence of primary infections during pregnancy and birth prevalence of congenital toxoplasmosis in 40978 children born in two regions in Sweden was determined. Women possibly infected during pregnancy were identi®ed based on: 1, detection of speci®c IgG based on neonatal screening of the phenylketonuria (PKU) card blood spot followed by retrospective testing of stored prenatal samples to detect women who acquired infection during pregnancy and follow up of their children to 12 months; 2, detection of speci®c IgM on the PKU blood spot. The birth prevalence of congenital toxoplasmosis was 0±73}10000 (95% CI 0±15±2±14) (3}40978). The incidence of primary infection during pregnancy was 5±1}10000 (95% CI 2±6±8±9) susceptible pregnant women. The seroprevalence in the southern part was 25±7% and in the Stockholm area 14±0%. The incidence of infection during pregnancy was low, as the birth prevalence of congenital toxoplasmosis. Neonatal screening warrants consideration in view of the low cost and feasibility.
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| 10. |
- Heyman, P, et al.
(author)
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Tula hantavirus in Belgium
- 2002
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In: Epidemiology and infection. - 0950-2688. ; 128:2, s. 251-256
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)
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| 11. |
- Nowrouzian, Forough, 1957, et al.
(author)
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P fimbriae and aerobactin as intestinal colonization factors for Escherichia coli in Pakistani infants.
- 2001
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In: Epidemiology and infection. - 0950-2688. ; 126:1, s. 19-23
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The carriage rate of a range of virulence genes was compared between resident and transient Escherichia coli strains obtained from the rectal flora of 22 home-delivered Pakistani infants 0-6 months old. Genes for the following virulence factors were assessed using multiplex PCR: P, type 1 and S fimbriae, three P fimbrial adhesin varieties, Dr haemagglutinin, K1 and K5 capsule, haemolysin and aerobactin. The E. coli strains examined here differed from those previously obtained from hosts in Western Europe in a lower prevalence of genes for P, S and type 1 fimbriae, K1 capsule and haemolysin. Nevertheless, genes for P fimbriae, the class II variety of papG adhesin, and aerobactin were significantly more common among resident than transient strains, as previously observed in a Swedish study. The results suggest that P fimbriae and aerobactin, previously implicated as virulence factors for urinary tract infection, might contribute to persistence of E. coli in the normal intestinal microflora.
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| 12. |
- Nowrouzian, Forough, 1957, et al.
(author)
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P fimbriae, capsule and aerobactin characterize colonic resident Escherichia coli.
- 2001
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In: Epidemiology and infection. - 0950-2688. ; 126:1, s. 11-8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Resident and transient Escherichia coli strains from the colonic microflora of 13 Swedish schoolgirls were analysed for carriage of genes encoding a range of adhesins (P, type 1 and S fimbriae, Dr haemagglutinin and three varieties of the P fimbrial papG adhesin) and other virulence traits (K1 and K5 capsule, haemolysin and aerobactin) using multiplex PCR. Forty-four percent of the resident clones carried genes for P fimbriae, K1 or K5 capsule, and aerobactin, compared with only 3% of transient clones (P < 0.0001). The P-fimbriated clones most often had the class II variety of the P-fimbrial adhesin gene papG and this adhesin was significantly associated with persistence of a strain. S fimbriae and type 1 fimbriae were equally common in resident and transient strains. The results indicate that not only P fimbriae, but also, certain capsules and the ability to produce the siderophore aerobactin might contribute to persistence of E. coli in the large intestine.
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| 16. |
- Welinder-Olsson, Christina, 1959, et al.
(author)
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EHEC outbreak among staff at a children's hospital--use of PCR for verocytotoxin detection and PFGE for epidemiological investigation.
- 2004
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In: Epidemiology and infection. - 0950-2688. ; 132:1, s. 43-9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This is the first report of a major foodborne outbreak of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) in Sweden. It occurred among the nursing staff at a children's hospital with approximately 1600 employees. Contaminated lettuce was the most likely source of infection. Nine persons were culture-positive for Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157 and verocytotoxin-positive by PCR and a further two were verocytotoxin-positive by PCR only. All 11 EHEC-positive individuals had attended a party for approximately 250 staff members, which was held at the hospital. In a questionnaire 37 persons stated that they had symptoms consistent with EHEC infection during the weeks after the party. There was no evidence of secondary transmission from staff to patients. The value of PCR as a sensitive and fast method for diagnosis is discussed in this paper. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to ascertain that staff members were infected by the same clone, and that two patients with E. coli O157 infection were not.
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