Influenza epidemiology among hospitalized children in Stockholm, Sweden 1998-2014.

Background: Influenza remains a common reason for the hospitalization of children. There is a need for long term studies that are also population based. We describe the epidemiology of severe influenza in a defined population 1998-2014.

Performance of the Simplexa™ Flu A/B & RSV Direct Kit on respiratory samples collected in saline solution.

Background: Molecular assays for diagnosis of influenza A, influenza B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) with short turnaround time are of considerable clinical importance. We have evaluated the diagnostic performance of the Simplexa(™) Flu A/B & RSV Direct Kit, which has a run time of 60 min, using different types of respiratory samples collected from patients with a suspected respiratory tract infection, including materials not previously evaluated on this kit.

Methods: In total, 210 clinical respiratory samples were analyzed using both the Simplexa direct assay and a laboratory-developed assay (LDA).

Molecular epidemiology and genetic variability of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Stockholm, 2002-2003.

The epidemiology and genetic variability of circulating respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) strains in Stockholm during the season 2002-2003 were studied in consecutive RSV isolates derived from respiratory samples and diagnosed in the laboratory. Two hundred thirty-four viruses were sequenced. The samples were mainly from children under 1 year old (79%).

A novel varicella-zoster virus gE mutation discovered in two Swedish isolates.

Background: Two VZV glycoprotein E (gE D150N) mutant strains were collected in North America in 1995 and in 1999. We now report a novel VZV gE mutant virus discovered in Europe in two VZV strains collected in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1990 and 1999.

Objectives: To characterize the two isolates identified among a total of 634 VZV isolates collected over a 15-year period at the Karolinska University Hospital.

Evaluation of the ReSSQ assay in relation to the COBAS AMPLICOR CMV MONITOR test and an in-house nested PCR method for detection of cytomegalovirus DNA.

The ReSSQ CMV assay is a novel commercially available kit for quantification of cytomegalovirus (CMV), based on real-time PCR with a peptide nucleic acid probe coupled with a single dye. In combination with the LightCycler, the ReSSQ CMV assay was evaluated with respect to specificity, PCR inhibition, linearity, reproducibility, and sensitivity. All nontested CMV materials were negative, and the assay was not inhibited by the use of different anticoagulants or other factors that may influence blood samples.