Microbiological diagnosis of pleural infections: a comparative evaluation of a novel syndromic real-time PCR panel.

Current microbial diagnostics for pleural infections are insufficient. Studies using 16S targeted next-generation sequencing report that only 10%-16% of bacteria present are cultured and that 50%-78% of pleural fluids containing relevant microbial DNA remain culture negative. As a rapid diagnostic alternative suitable for clinical laboratories, we wanted to explore a PCR-based approach.

Pleural Empyema Caused by Streptococcus intermedius and Fusobacterium nucleatum: A Distinct Entity of Pleural Infections.

Background: Many community-acquired pleural infections are caused by facultative and anaerobic bacteria from the human oral microbiota. The epidemiology, clinical characteristics, pathogenesis, and etiology of such infections are little studied. The aim of the present prospective multicenter cohort study was to provide a thorough microbiological and clinical characterization of such oral-type pleural infections and to improve our understanding of the underlying etiology and associated risk factors.

Emergence and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli causing bloodstream infections in Norway in 2002-17: a nationwide, longitudinal, microbial population genomic study.

Background: The clonal diversity underpinning trends in multidrug resistant Escherichia coli causing bloodstream infections remains uncertain. We aimed to determine the contribution of individual clones to resistance over time, using large-scale genomics-based molecular epidemiology.

Methods: This was a longitudinal, E coli population, genomic, cohort study that sampled isolates from 22 512 E coli bloodstream infections included in the Norwegian surveillance programme on resistant microbes (NORM) from 2002 to 2017.

Symptom load and general function among patients with erythema migrans: a prospective study with a 1-year follow-up after antibiotic treatment in Norwegian general practice.

Objective: Promptly treated erythema migrans (EM) has good prognosis. However, some patients report persistent symptoms. Do patients with EM have more symptoms than the general population? We describe individual symptoms and general function in EM-patients at time of diagnosis and one year after treatment.

Subjective health complaints are not associated with tick bites or antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in blood donors in western Norway: a cross-sectional study.

Background: There is controversy about chronic health consequences of tick-borne infections, especially Lyme borreliosis. This study aims to assess whether general function, physical fitness and subjective health complaints are associated with tick bites or antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in blood donors.

Methods: Sera from 1,213 blood donors at four different blood banks in Sogn and Fjordane county in western Norway were obtained during January to June 2010, and analysed for specific IgG and IgM antibodies.

Twenty-two years of candidaemia surveillance: results from a Norwegian national study.

Several studies have reported an increased incidence of candidaemia and a redistribution of species, with a decrease in the number of Candida albicans isolates. In Norway, a prospective, national surveillance study of candidaemia has been ongoing since 1991. Data from the period 1991-2003 have been published previously.

Seroprevalence of antibodies to tick-borne encephalitis virus and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in healthy adults from western Norway.

The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of antibodies to tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in a healthy adult population from Sogn and Fjordane county in western Norway. Sera from 1, 213 blood donors were analysed for IgG-antibodies to TBEV, and a random subgroup of 301 donors for IgG to A. phagocytophilum.

Seroprevalence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in healthy adults from western Norway: risk factors and methodological aspects.

The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in a healthy adult population from Sogn and Fjordane county in western Norway by different assays. Sera from 1213 blood donors at four different blood banks were analysed in Enzygnost Lyme link VlsE/IgG (IgG), Enzygnost Borreliosis IgM (IgM), and Immunetics C6 Lyme ELISA kit (C6). Sera showing positive or grey-zone reactivities were further examined with Borrelia-EUROLine-RN-AT IgG blot and Borrelia-EUROLine-RN-AT IgM blot.

Tick bites in healthy adults from western Norway: occurrence, risk factors, and outcomes.

The frequency of tick bites, risk factors, as well as simple outcome measures after tick bites in a healthy adult population (blood donors) from Sogn and Fjordane county situated at the western coast of Norway, was assessed. The study was based on cross-sectional data from blood donors at 4 different blood banks in the county during the period January to June 2010. Data on tick bites and potential risk factors were collected from 1213 blood donors using a questionnaire.

[Infections after Caesarean sections].

Background: All hospitals in Norway are required to participate in the Norwegian Surveillance System for Hospital-Acquired Infections (NOIS). Hospitals can choose to have from one to five given surgical procedures under surveillance, caesarean section being one of them. This article describes the incidence of surgical site infections after caesarean sections and identifies causes for such infections.

Emergence of clonally related Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates of sequence type 258 producing plasmid-mediated KPC carbapenemase in Norway and Sweden.

Background: The class A carbapenemase KPC has disseminated rapidly worldwide, challenging the treatment of Gram-negative infections. This report describes the first KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates identified in Norway (n=6) and the second isolate from Sweden.

Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were determined using Etest.

Evaluation of 12 commercial tests for detection of Epstein-Barr virus-specific and heterophile antibodies.

Ten microbiological departments in Norway have participated in a multicenter evaluation of the following commercial tests for detection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific and heterophile antibodies: CAPTIA Select viral capsid antigen (VCA)-M/G/EBNA (Centocor Inc.), Enzygnost anti-EBV/immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG (Dade Behring), Vironostika EBV VCA IgM/IgG/EBNA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Organon Teknika), SEROFLUOR immunofluorescence assay and EBV Combi-Test (Institute Virion Ltd.), anti-EBV recombinant IgM- and IgG-early antigen/EBNA IgG ELISA (Biotest Diagnostics), EBV IgM/IgG/EBNA ELISA (Gull Laboratories), Paul-Bunnell-Davidsohn test (Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur), Monosticon Dri-Dot (Organon Teknika), Avitex-IM (Omega Diagnostics Ltd.

[Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae--a cause of erysipeloid and endocarditis].

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is widespread among many species of animals including fish. Erysipeloid is the most common infection caused by this bacterium in man; systemic infection, with endocarditis, is rare. Most of the affected patients risk exposure to the organism at work.

Small-fragment restriction endonuclease analysis in epidemiological mapping of group A streptococci.

The usefulness of small-fragment restriction endonuclease digest analysis (SF-REA) of group A streptococcal DNA with EcoRI, as a supplement to the more conventional T serotyping, was assessed for epidemiological characterisation. One hundred and thirty-five clinical isolates from 1988-1990 were examined. SF-REA provided characteristic fingerprints of all isolates, whereas eight isolates were non-typable by T serotyping.

Pneumonia, myocarditis and reactive arthritis due to Chlamydia pneumoniae.

A 37 year old HLA B27 negative man developed erythema nodosum, pneumonia, myocarditis and oligoarthritis due to Chlamydia pneumoniae. He recovered completely over a four month period. This is the first clinical description of reactive arthritis caused by C.

Serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis of clone III-1 present in western Norway as early as 1969-73.

A clone of serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis recognized by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and designated as clone III-1, has caused major epidemics of meningococcal disease in various parts of the world since the 1970s. In Norway, serogroup B meningococci have been responsible for an epidemic since the mid-1970s. We have studied a sample of 53 meningococci isolated from patients in western Norway prior to the serogroup B epidemic.

Interns' evaluation of their preparation for general practice: a comparison between the University of Tromsø and the University of Bergen.

A total of 168 interns who have graduated from the Medical Schools of Bergen and Tromsø were asked about various aspects of the medical curriculum. In Bergen the curriculum has a traditional structure with a pre-clinical and a clinical part, but in Tromsø the pre-clinical and clinical subjects are integrated. In addition, the students in Tromsø spend long periods in municipal hospitals and in the primary health care service.