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- Grevskott, D. H., et al.
(author)
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Emergence and dissemination of epidemic-causing OXA-244 carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli ST38 through hospital sewage in Norway, 2020-2022
- 2024
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In: JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL INFECTION. - 0195-6701 .- 1532-2939. ; 145, s. 165-173
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Population -based sewage surveillance has emerged as a promising approach for studying the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in pathogens. Aim: To determine the temporal prevalence of cefotaxime-resistant Escherichia coli in sewage from five sewage treatment plants located in Bergen city, to determine whether ESBL- and carbapenemase-producing E. coli are consistently disseminated in the receiving environment through sewage. Method: A total of 569 cefotaxime-resistant E. coli were isolated over a period of 19 months (August 2020 to February 2022) using ECC CHROMagarTM plates from 82 samples, antibiotic sensitivity profiles were determined, using SensititreTM plates. The draft genome sequences were determined, using Illumina MiSeq-based sequencing. Complete genome sequences were determined, using Oxford Nanopore-based sequencing. Findings: All 569 strains obtained from influent (N1/4461) and effluent (N1/4108) were multidrug resistant. Most of the sequenced strains (52 of 61) carried blaCTX-M-15 (38.5%) and blaCTX-M-27 (34.6%). The most prevalent sequence types (STs) for ESBL-carrying strains were ST131 (32.8%) and ST38 (21.3%). All CTX-M-27-carrying ST131 strains belonged to clade A or C1, while CTX-M-15-harbouring strains were present in all the clades. Five OXA-244producing ST38 strains, genetically similar to epidemic -causing strains from Western Norway, France and the Netherlands, were isolated only from raw and treated sewage of the treatment plant receiving hospital sewage.
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- Grewling, L., et al.
(author)
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Variation in Artemisia pollen seasons in Central and Eastern Europe
- 2012
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In: Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-2240 .- 0168-1923. ; 160, s. 48-59
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper aims to address some gaps in current knowledge by studying temporal and spatial variations in Artemisia pollen counts (2000-2009) at 13 sites located in different biogeographical areas of Central and Eastern Europe. Analysis showed that start dates of Artemisia pollen seasons are greatly dependent on temperature during June and July, with hot summer temperatures having a tendency to delay summer flowering. However, this relationship is not linear and the rate at which seasons become later increases when mean minimum June-July temperatures reach a threshold of about 13 degrees C. No explanation for variations in pollen season intensity could be found. The geographical location or amount of urbanisation did not influence, either positively or negatively, the seasonal pollen index. Second peaks in Artemisia pollen seasons can be described as the pollen seasons of late flowering Artemisia species, and mainly occurred in the geographical area south of the Carpathian Mountains. These second peaks can significantly influence the seasonal pollen index, contributing over 50% to the season's total Artemisia pollen recorded at one site. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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- Radisic, Vera, et al.
(author)
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Tigecycline-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains from sewage in Norway carry heavy-metal resistance genes encoding conjugative plasmids
- 2024
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In: JOURNAL OF GLOBAL ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE. - 2213-7165 .- 2213-7173. ; 36, s. 482-484
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: Tigecycline is a last-resort antibiotic used for treatment of infections with carbapenemresistant Klebsiella pneumoniae . The aim of the study was to understand the genetic mechanism of resistance and the genetic context of resistance genes in two tigecycline-resistant K. pneumoniae strains isolated from sewage in Bergen, Norway. Methods: Complete genome sequencing of the two strains was accomplished using a combination of short-read Illumina MiSeq-based and long-read Oxford Nanopore MinION-based sequencing. Conjugation experiments were performed using filter mating and a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged Escherichia coli strain. Results: The complete genome sequences of strain K6-320.1 and strain K7-325 were assembled into two contigs for each strain, one contig representing the complete circular chromosomes of 5 223 440 bp (K6320.1) and 5 263 092 bp (K7-325), respectively, and the other representing plasmids with sizes of 276 509 bp (pK6-320.1) and 246 731 bp (pK7-325). Strain K6-320.1 belonged to sequence type (ST)869, whereas strain K7-325 belonged to the pathogenic ST307. Both plasmids belonged to the IncFIB(K)/IncFII(K) group and carried several antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), including tet (A) and blaCTX-M . Both plasmids (pK6320.1 and pK7-325) were transferred to a GFP-tagged E. coli strain, leading to the acquisition of resistance against multiple classes of antibiotics. Several heavy-metal resistance genes (HMRGs) encoding resistance against silver ( sil ), copper ( pco ), and arsenic ( ars ) were also present on both plasmids. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates the presence of multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae strains carrying conjugative plasmids encoding both ARGs and HMRGs that have potential for persistence in the environment and human microbiota. (c) 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. This is an open access article under the CC BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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- Sikoparija, B., et al.
(author)
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A mechanism for long distance transport of Ambrosia pollen from the Pannonian Plain
- 2013
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In: Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-1923 .- 1873-2240. ; 180, s. 112-117
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The pollen grains of ragweed are important aeroallergens that have the potential to be transported long distances through the air. The arrival of ragweed pollen in Nordic countries from the Pannonian Plain can occur when certain conditions are met, which this study aims to describe for the first time. Atmospheric ragweed pollen concentrations were collected at 16 pollen-monitoring sites. Other factors included in the analysis were the overall synoptic weather situation, surface wind speeds, wind direction and temperatures as well as examining regional scale orography and satellite observations. Hot and dry weather in source areas on the Pannonian Plain aid the release of ragweed pollen during the flowering season and result in the deep Planetary Boundary Layers needed to lift the pollen over the Carpathian Mountains to the north. Suitable synoptic conditions are also required for the pollen bearing air masses to move northward. These same conditions produce the jet-effect Kosava and orographic foehn winds that aid the release and dispersal of ragweed pollen and contribute towards its movement into Poland and beyond.
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- Winters, Z E, et al.
(author)
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International validation of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-BRECON23 quality-of-life questionnaire for women undergoing breast reconstruction.
- 2018
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In: British Journal of Surgery. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0007-1323 .- 1365-2168. ; 105, s. 209-222
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The aim was to carry out phase 4 international field-testing of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) breast reconstruction (BRECON) module. The primary objective was finalization of its scale structure. Secondary objectives were evaluation of its reliability, validity, responsiveness, acceptability and interpretability in patients with breast cancer undergoing mastectomy and reconstruction.METHODS: The EORTC module development guidelines were followed. Patients were recruited from 28 centres in seven countries. A prospective cohort completed the QLQ-BRECON15 before mastectomy and the QLQ-BRECON24 at 4-8 months after reconstruction. The cross-sectional cohort completed the QLQ-BRECON24 at 1-5 years after reconstruction, and repeated this 2-8 weeks later (test-retest reliability). All participants completed debriefing questionnaires.RESULTS: A total of 438 patients were recruited, 234 in the prospective cohort and 204 in the cross-sectional cohort. A total of 414 reconstructions were immediate, with a comparable number of implants (176) and donor-site flaps (166). Control groups comprised patients who underwent two-stage implant procedures (72, 75 per cent) or delayed reconstruction (24, 25 per cent). Psychometric scale validity was supported by moderate to high item-own scale and item-total correlations (over 0·5). Questionnaire validity was confirmed by good scale-to-sample targeting, and computable scale scores exceeding 50 per cent, except nipple cosmesis (over 40 per cent). In known-group comparisons, QLQ-BRECON24 scales and items differentiated between patient groups defined by clinical criteria, such as type and timing of reconstruction, postmastectomy radiotherapy and surgical complications, with moderate effect sizes. Prospectively, sexuality and surgical side-effects scales showed significant responsiveness over time (P < 0·001). Scale reliability was supported by high Cronbach's α coefficients (over 0·7) and test-retest (intraclass correlation more than 0·8). One item (finding a well fitting bra) was excluded based on high floor/ceiling effects, poor test-retest and weak correlations in factor analysis (below 0·3), thus generating the QLQ-BRECON23 questionnaire.CONCLUSION: The QLQ-BRECON23 is an internationally validated tool to be used alongside the EORTC QLQ-C30 (cancer) and QLQ-BR23 (breast cancer) questionnaires for evaluating quality of life and satisfaction after breast reconstruction.
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