Risk factors and potential preventive measures for nephropatia epidemica in Sweden 2011-2012: a case-control study.

Introduction: Nephropatia epidemica (NE), a relatively mild form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome caused by the Puumala virus (PUUV), is endemic in northern Sweden. We aim to study the risk factors associated with NE in this region.

Methods: We conducted a matched case-control study between June 2011 and July 2012.

Improved partner notification for genital chlamydia can be achieved by centralisation of the duty to a specially trained team.

Partner notification is mandatory for Chlamydia trachomatis infections in Sweden. A significant quality improvement of partner notification for genital chlamydia was achieved by increasing the skills and reducing the number of individuals conducting partner notifications. By centralisation of the partner notification to a specially trained team of nurses, an additional 12% of genital chlamydia cases were found.

Occurrence of genetic variants of Listeria monocytogenes strains.

Isolates of Listeria monocytogenes saved from outbreaks of listeriosis, cases of sporadic listeriosis, and similar events do not always belong to a solitary genetic variant. Variants of the same strain may have evolved from a unique clone, and plasmid loss or gain and phage-mediated genetic changes are suggested as the main mechanism. Some of these reports are summarized in this short communication.

Prevalence trends of the new variant of Chlamydia trachomatis in four counties of Sweden in 2007-2011.

A new variant of Chlamydia trachomatis (nvCT) was discovered in Sweden in 2006, and it could not be detected by diagnostic systems from Abbott and Roche, whereas the third system used, from Becton Dickinson (BD), detects nvCT. We analyzed 3648 samples from 2 counties that used Roche and 2 counties that used BD methods from 2007 to 2011. After implementation of a Roche method that detects nvCT, its proportion has decreased and converged in the 4 counties but are still at different levels in Roche and BD counties.

Pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis is not uncommon any more.

Background: The significance of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection in the pharynx, and possible symptoms, are under discussion. Most studies have involved only homo/bisexual men. We report findings of pharyngeal Ct (PhCt) infections in patients with long-lasting throat discomfort and the prevalence of PhCt in genitally Ct-infected young people in a Swedish primary care setting.

Spatial bridges and the spread of Chlamydia: the case of a county in Sweden.

Objectives: The so-called small-world effect can have a great impact on efforts to control the incidence and prevalence of sexually transmitted infections. This is because a small number of so-called spatial bridgers (individuals who, through sexual contacts, interconnect geographically distant areas) can drastically lower the average path length in the sexual network and, as a result, make locally based intervention programs much less effective. The objectives of this study were to analyze the sociodemographic characteristics of these bridgers and to compare the result with the remaining study population.

Improved contact tracing of Chlamydia trachomatis in a Swedish county--is genotyping worthwhile?

The vast majority of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections are non-symptomatic or mildly symptomatic. Efficient contact tracing and screening programmes are the most effective means to reveal these infections. We conducted a prospective study on the effects of contact tracing performed by specially trained midwives in a centralized municipality-based organization during one year.

Characterization of ompA genotypes by sequence analysis of DNA from all detected cases of Chlamydia trachomatis infections during 1 year of contact tracing in a Swedish County.

In this study we aimed to characterize the ompA gene by sequencing DNA from all detected cases of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a Swedish county during 2001, in order to improve the efficiency of contact tracing. Approximately 990 bp of the ompA gene was amplified, and sequence analysis was achieved in 678 (94%) of 725 C. trachomatis-positive cases in this unselected population.

Antibiotic resistance among Campylobacter jejuni/coli strains acquired in Sweden and abroad: a longitudinal study.

Antibiotic resistance was compared in 844 Campylobacter jejuni/coli strains acquired outside Sweden and 575 acquired in Sweden during 1990-2002. There was a clear gradual increase in ciprofloxacin and tetracycline resistance among C. jejuni/coli strains acquired outside Sweden during the 13 y period.

Intrafamilial spread of highly virulent staphylococcus aureus strains carrying the gene for Panton-Valentine leukocidin.

Necrotizing pneumonia caused by Staphylococcus aureus carrying the gene for Panton-Valentine leukocidin is a newly described disease entity. We report 2 cases with intrafamilial spread.