International circumpolar surveillance: update on the interlaboratory quality control program for , 2009 to 2020.

Unlabelled: The International Circumpolar Surveillance (ICS) program is a population-based surveillance network for invasive bacterial diseases throughout Arctic countries and territories. The ICS quality control program for serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing has been ongoing since 1999. Current participating laboratories include the Provincial Laboratory for Public Health in Edmonton, Alberta; Laboratoire de santé publique du Québec in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec; the Centers for Disease Control's Arctic Investigations Program in Anchorage, Alaska; the Neisseria and Streptococcus Reference Laboratory at Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen, Denmark; the Department of Clinical Microbiology, Landspitali in Reykjavik, Iceland; and Public Health Agency of Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Invasive Pneumococcal Disease and Potential Impact of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines Among Adults, Including Persons Experiencing Homelessness-Alaska, 2011-2020.

Background: Adults aged ≥65 years, adults with certain underlying medical conditions, and persons experiencing homelessness are at increased risk for invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Two new pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15) and 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20), were recently approved for use in US adults. We describe the epidemiology of IPD among Alaska adults and estimate the proportion of IPD cases potentially preventable by new vaccines.

Genomic Diversity of Haemophilus influenzae Serotype a in an Outbreak Community-Alaska, 2018.

Background: Haemophilus influenzae serotype a (Hia) can cause severe invasive disease, especially in young children. In 2018, 4 invasive Hia cases occurred in an Alaska community. We used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to evaluate the relationship of the bacteria from this community and other Alaska patients with invasive Hia.

Haemophilus influenzae Serotype a (Hia) Carriage in a Small Alaska Community After a Cluster of Invasive Hia Disease, 2018.

Background: Between May and July 2018, 4 Haemophilus influenzae serotype a (Hia) infections occurred in a remote Alaska community. We performed a public health response to prevent further illness and understand Hia carriage.

Methods: We collected oropharyngeal samples community-wide to evaluate baseline carriage.

Antimicrobial resistance among Helicobacter pylori isolates in Alaska, 2000-2016.

Objectives: Alaska Natives experience a high burden of Helicobacter pylori infection and concomitant high rates of gastric cancer. Additionally, the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant H. pylori has been shown to be high in Alaska.