Influenza A subtype H3N2 is associated with an increased risk of hospital dissemination - an observational study over six influenza seasons

BACKGROUND

Previous studies on hospital-acquired influenza (HAI) have not systematically evaluated the possible impact of different influenza subtypes. HAI has historically been associated with high mortality, but clinical consequences may be less severe in a modern hospital setting.

AIMS

To identify and quantify HAI for each season, investigate possible associations with varying influenza subtypes, and to determine HAI-associated mortality.

METHODS

All influenza-PCR-positive adult patients (>18 years old) hospitalized in Skåne County during 2013-2019, were prospectively included in the study. Positive influenza samples were subtyped. Medical records of patients with suspected HAI were examined to confirm a nosocomial origin and to determine 30-day mortality.

RESULTS

Of 4110 hospitalized patients with a positive influenza PCR, 430 (10.5%) were HAI. Influenza A(H3N2) infections were more often HAI (15.1%) than influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, and influenza B (6.3% and 6.8% respectively, P<0.001). The majority of HAI caused by H3N2 were clustered (73.3 %) and were the cause of all 20 hospital outbreaks consisting of ≥4 affected patients. In contrast, the majority of HAI caused by influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and influenza B were solitary cases (60% and 63.2%, respectively, P<0.001). Mortality associated with HAI was 9.3% and similar between subtypes.

CONCLUSIONS

HAI caused by influenza A(H3N2) was associated with an increased risk of hospital dissemination. Our study is relevant for future seasonal influenza infection control preparedness and shows that subtyping of influenza may help to define relevant infection control measures. Mortality in HAI remains substantial in a modern hospital setting.

The VGF-Derived Neuropeptide TLQP-21 Shows No Impact on Hormone Secretion in the Isolated Perfused Rat Pancreas

TLQP-21 is a VGF-derived neuropeptide proposed to be involved in regulation of metabolism. More specifically it has been suggested that TLQP-21 has the ability to enhance glucose stimulated insulin secretion, making it a candidate for treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes.In this study, we investigated the impact of TLQP-21 on insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin secretion in the perfused rat pancreas. We found that administration of 5 and 50 nM TLQP-21 had no impact on pancreatic hormone secretion at 3.5 or 8 mM glucose levels. Increasing TLQP-21 (200 nM) and glucose concentration (3.5 and 16 mM) led to a nonsignificant decrease in glucagon secretion, though insulin and somatostatin secretory patterns remained unaffected. In a final set of experiments, perfusions were performed with infusion of 50 and 1 000 nM TLQP-21 to ensure sufficient stimulation. However, administration of TLQP-21 under this setup showed no impact on the pancreatic hormone secretion either. In conclusion, the outcome of this study does not concur with previous findings, suggesting that the effect of TLQP-21 does not directly involve silent hormone secretion.

Emergence of enterovirus D68 in Denmark, June 2014 to February 2015

From June 2014 through February 2015, respiratory samples from 130 Danish patients were screened for enterovirus D68 (EV-D68). Fourteen EV-D68 cases were detected, of which 12 presented with respiratory symptoms, and eight had known underlying disease. The median age of EV-D68 cases was three years (interquartile range: 0–30 years). Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) was not detected although Danish EV-D68 strains showed > 98% nt identity with EV-D68-strains from AFP cases from the United States and France.

Cardiovascular risk in patients with sleep apnoea with or without continuous positive airway pressure therapy: follow-up of 4.5 million Danish adults

BACKGROUND

The prognostic significance of age and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on cardiovascular disease in patients with sleep apnoea has not been assessed previously.

METHODS

Using nationwide databases, the entire Danish population was followed from 2000 until 2011. First-time sleep apnoea diagnoses and use of CPAP therapy were determined. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of ischaemic stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) were analysed using Poisson regression models.

RESULTS

Amongst 4.5 million individuals included in the study, 33 274 developed sleep apnoea (mean age 53, 79% men) of whom 44% received persistent CPAP therapy. Median time to initiation of CPAP therapy was 88 days (interquartile range 34-346). Patients with sleep apnoea had more comorbidities compared to the general population. Crude rates of MI and ischaemic stroke were increased for sleep apnoea patients (5.4 and 3.6 events per 1000 person-years compared to 4.0 and 3.0 in the general population, respectively). Relative to the general population, risk of MI [IRR 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.57-1.86] and ischaemic stroke (IRR 1.50, 95% CI 1.35-1.66) was significantly increased in patients with sleep apnoea, in particular in patients younger than 50 years (IRR 2.12, 95% CI 1.64-2.74 and IRR 2.34, 95% CI 1.77-3.10, respectively). Subsequent CPAP therapy was not associated with altered prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep apnoea is associated with increased risk of ischaemic stroke and MI, particularly in patients younger than 50 years of age. CPAP therapy was not associated with a reduced rate of stroke or MI.

Retinal vein and artery occlusions: a risk factor for stroke in atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

Retinal vascular occlusions may constitute an independent risk factor for stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study on a nationwide cohort with atrial fibrillation from 1997 to 2008. The rate of stroke/systemic thromboembolism (TE)/transitory ischemic attack (TIA) was determined for atrial fibrillation patients with and without a history of retinal vascular occlusion. A Cox regression analysis, adjusted for risk factors and medications, was performed to determine the independent predictive value of retinal arterial or venous occlusion for the risk of ischemic stroke, TE or TIA in atrial fibrillation patients.

RESULTS

We included 87 202 patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. At baseline, a history of retinal arterial occlusion was diagnosed in 224 patients (0.26%) and a history of retinal venous occlusion in 361 (0.41%). Patients without retinal occlusion had a rate of stroke/TE/TIA of 4.52 (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.44-4.60). For patients with retinal arterial occlusion, the rate of stroke/TE/TIA was 8.16 (95% CI 6.35-10.49) per 100 person-years, and for patients with retinal venous occlusion it was 7.28 (95% CI 5.93-8.94) per 100 person-years. In multivariate analysis, both retinal arterial occlusions (hazard ratio [HR] 1.39, 95% CI 1.08-1.79) and retinal venous occlusions (HR 1.26, 95% CI 1.02-1.54) were associated with an increased risk of future stroke/TE/TIA.

CONCLUSIONS

A history of retinal arterial or retinal venous occlusion is associated with an increased risk of stroke/TE/TIA in patients with atrial fibrillation. Thus, prior retinal vascular occlusion may be considered as a previous thromboembolic event when evaluating stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among women attending antenatal clinics in Tanga, north eastern Tanzania

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among HIV-infected and uninfected pregnant women in Tanga, Tanzania. Retrospective data on syphilis and HIV status during 2008-2010 were collected from antenatal clinic (ANC) records. Prospective data were collected from HIV-infected (n = 105) and HIV-uninfected pregnant women (n = 100) attending ANCs between April 2009 and August 2010. Syphilis prevalence showed a declining trend (3.1%, 1.4% and 1.3%), while HIV prevalence was stable (6.1%, 6.4% and 5.4%) during 2008-2010. HIV-infected women had significantly higher prevalence of trichomoniasis (18.8% versus 5.0%; P < 0.003) and candidiasis (16.5% versus 2.0%; P < 0.001) while the higher rate of gonorrhoea (3.5% versus 0%; P = 0.095) was not statistically significant when compared with HIV-uninfected women. There were no statistically significant differences in prevalence of chlamydial infection (0% versus 3.0%; P = 0.156) or syphilis (2.4% versus 3.0%; P = 1) between HIV-infected and uninfected women. Other STIs were common in both HIV-infected and uninfected pregnant women.

First identification of tick-borne encephalitis in Denmark outside of Bornholm, August 2009

The incidence of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Scandinavia is increasing and spreading geographically. Following two clinical cases of TBE hospitalised after tick bites in northern Zealand, Denmark, specific IgM and IgG antibodies against tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) were demonstrated in acute serum samples of these patients. TBEV was identified by RT-PCR in ticks collected from the same location. This is the first report of TBEV in Ixodes ricinus leading to clinical cases in Denmark outside of Bornholm island.

[Population screening for HIV in Sisimiut, Greenland]

INTRODUCTION

In the years 1985-1998, 91 HIV-positive persons were diagnosed in Greenland, resulting in an incidence of HIV infection three times higher in Greenland than in Denmark. Of these cases 25% were diagnosed in Sisimiut, which, however, only comprises 10% of the total population of Greenland. In spite of an active HIV case-tracing programme at the Health Centre, there was a fear of unknown HIV-positives in the town. Therefore, the Health Centre initiated an HIV screening campaign among all adults and school children in the town of Sisimiut and two adjacent settlements.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The screening campaign was carried out in the weeks 46 and 47 in November 1998 by the staff at the Health Centre. All participants filled out a questionnaire concerning demographic variables, and had blood samples drawn. For adults the campaign mainly took place in the community centre and the large work places, and for the children at the schools. Blood samples were tested for antibodies against HIV 1 and 2 at Statens Serum Institut using ELISA tests and confirmatory Western Blot.

RESULTS

Of the total population of 4807, 2858 persons took part in the screening campaign (participation rate 59%). Among adults the participation rate was 50%, and for children aged 6-17 years the rate was 86%. Four HIV-positive persons were tested positive. Of these three were already known HIV-positives, and the last person was highly suspect of HIV infection.

DISCUSSION

There is no evidence of widespread HIV infection in Sisimiut. No unknown groups of HIV-positive persons were identified. Thus, the intensive case-tracing programme as carried out by the Health Centre seems effective.

EBV-positive primary central nervous system lymphomas in monozygote twins with common variable immunodeficiency and suspected multiple sclerosis

Common variable immunodeficiency represents the most frequently occurring primary immunodeficiency disorder and is usually detected sporadically in patients with no family history of immunodeficiency. We present the case stories of two monozygote twins, who following a period of decreasing serum immunoglobulins developed primary central nervous system lymphomas. One twin had clinical and paraclinical features mimicking multiple sclerosis. Immunohistochemical investigations on biopsy tissue showed expression of the bcl-2 and p53 gene products, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encoded small RNA's (EBER) indicating latent infection were detected in lymphoma cells using in situ hybridisation techniques. The pathogenetic role of EBV in oncogenesis is discussed.

Markers of sexually transmitted diseases in seminal fluid of male clients of female sex workers

OBJECTIVES

To screen for certain STD markers in a group of male clients of female sex workers.

METHOD

Condoms with seminal fluid were collected at 10 "massage parlours" in Copenhagen. The seminal fluid samples were examined for HIV antibodies, markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV), Chlamydia trachomatis, and Mycoplasma genitalium.

RESULTS

All samples (n = 332) were negative for HIV antibodies. Out of 327 samples examined for HBV markers 32 (9.8%) were positive for HBV core antibodies, one of which was also positive for HBV antigen. C trachomatis could be demonstrated in six out of 122 (4.9%) samples and M genitalium in one out of 122 samples.

CONCLUSIONS

The finding of a C trachomatis prevalence of 4.9% is considerable higher than expected in men with a presumed age of 35-55 years. The demonstration of a prevalence of HBV markers of 9.8% indicates that these clients have an increased risk of HBV infection, a finding that further consolidates the recommendation of HBV vaccination of sex workers. As shown in this study, STD transmission in commercial sex may also have the client as the source.

9-year HIV-2-associated mortality in an urban community in Bissau, west Africa

BACKGROUND

Community studies with 1-3 years of follow-up have reported four to five times higher mortality in HIV-2-infected than in uninfected adults. In a cohort study of HIV-1, an increasing difference in mortality rates of HIV-1-infected and uninfected individuals is expected over time, because of rising mortality with advancing HIV-1 infection. We therefore investigated long-term survival of HIV-2-infected adults.

METHODS

Adults enrolled in 1987 in a community study of HIV-2 infection in Guinea-Bissau were followed up with serological surveys in 1989 and 1992. Survival was assessed in 1995, 9 years after enrollment.

FINDINGS

The annual incidence of HIV-2 was 0.7% for adults and tended to be higher for older individuals than for participants aged 15-44 years (relative risk 3.21 [95% CI 0.91-11.37]). With control for age, HIV-2-infected adults had twice as high mortality as uninfected individuals (mortality ratio 2.32 [1.18-4.57]); the mortality ratio was highest in the first year of the study (4.50 [1.31-15.43]). The difference between infected and uninfected individuals was stronger for adults under 45 years of age (mortality ratio 4.72 [1.86-11.97]) than for older people (1.35 [0.51-3.56]). HIV-2-infected individuals living with an infected spouse had significantly higher mortality than HIV-2-infected individuals living with an uninfected spouse (p = 0.027).

INTERPRETATION

HIV-2-associated mortality is not increasing with length of follow-up. Mortality in HIV-2-infected adults is only twice as high as that in uninfected individuals. In the majority of adults, HIV-2 has no effect on survival.

False negative anti-HIV-1/HIV-2 ELISAs in acute HIV-2 infection

Since HIV-2 was isolated in 1986, only 1 case of acute HIV-2 infection has been reported. We have identified another patient with primary HIV-2 infection. Follow-up samples were requested from the patient due to discrepant results. The HIV-2 infection was confirmed with HIV-2-specific proviral DNA amplification by PCR. The HIV-2 seroconversion panel obtained was used to evaluate the sensitivity of both combined and specific ELISAs currently in use in Europe, and to investigate the Western-blot patterns on both HIV-1-and HIV-2-specific Western blots. The window period was determined to be less than 37 days with the most sensitive assays. A remarkable difference in sensitivity to HIV-2 antibodies in acute HIV-2 infection was found in combined HIV-1/HIV-2 ELISAs. Three out of the 4 combined sandwich ELISAs appeared to be less sensitive than the indirect ELISAs in HIV-2 seroconversion, leading to a prolonged window period. One HIV-2-specific ELISA was also negative on the first sample, but positive on the second sample. In the HIV-2 Western blot, early reaction with HIV-2-specific env and gag proteins was seen, whereas the HIV-1 Western blot on the first sample revealed gag (p24, p55) reactivity only.

[Infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 2--HIV-2]

The majority of patients with HIV-2 infection come from West Africa or have had sexual contact with a person from there, as HIV-2 is prevalent in this area. HIV-2 is phylogenetically closer related to SIVsm and SIVmac than to HIV-1. HIV-2 is mainly transmitted by heterosexual contact, whereas the risk of mother-to-child infection is very low. Nine cases of HIV-2 infection have been diagnosed in Denmark. Out of these, seven are from West Africa and two have been infected in Denmark by individuals from West Africa.

[Human T-lymphotrophic virus type I and II--diagnosis and clinical presentation]

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1, HTLV-I, was the first human oncogenic retrovirus to be isolated in 1978. HTLV-I has previously been called Human T-cell leukaemia virus or Human T-cell lymphoma virus type I. HTLV-I infection is endemic in southwestern Japan, the Caribbean basin, and parts of South America and Africa. HTLV-I is aetiologically associated with adult T-cell leukaemia lymphoma and tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP), also known as HTLV-I-associated myelopathy. HTLV-II was isolated in 1982 and is endemic among some north American Indians. HTLV-II has not been clearly linked to any specific disease. Both viruses are found worldwide, particularly among intravenous drug users (IVDU), and have also been found in blood donors in USA and Europe. HTLV-I/II are transmitted by the same routes as HIV-1: blood-borne via blood transfusions and among IVDUs by sharing contaminated needles, and by mother-to-child transmission, primarily through breast feeding. HTLV-I/II infections are also sexually transmitted and can be transmitted in utero, though less efficiently than HIV-1. The diagnosis of HTLV-I/II infections is based on the detection of antibody to the virus. Due to the high degree of cross reactivity between HTLV-I and HTLV-II, it is difficult by serology to discriminate between the two viruses. Less than 5% of individuals infected with HTLV-I develop symptoms after a latent period, which can last from a few years to several decades. No specific treatment of adult T-cell leukaemia or tropical spastic paraparesis is currently available and no vaccine has yet been developed.

[HIV infection in children]

More children will be born infected with HIV in the years to come. Children with early symptoms will come into quick contact with a hospital, while others may be infected for up to ten years without presenting HIV-related symptoms. HIV infection can be diagnosed early with a combination of methods that are currently available (viral culture, ELISA antigen testing), and also with methods that are at present only used in research (DNA and RNA detection with PCR). Together with the clinical picture, it should be possible to have a reliable diagnosis no later than six months after birth. The general development of the children can be followed at frequent out-patient visits, while prophylactic measures can quickly be put into motion when necessary. The course of the illness can be followed and predicted with the help of different laboratory investigations. The medical treatment of HIV positive children follows the pattern of adult HIV positive patients. Children with an increased risk of bacterial infections can receive intravenous immune globulin as prophylaxis. HIV infected children can be given the common vaccinations, but BCG and oral anti-polio vaccine should not be given to children with symptomatic HIV infection. Prophylaxis of vertical transmission of HIV should be aimed at HIV testing of all pregnant women, to prevent this route of transmission. As long as there is no efficient treatment of HIV infection, termination of pregnancy must be recommended early after conception to all HIV positive women. Children born of HIV positive mothers should not be breast-fed.

[Diagnosis of HIV-infection]

Different methods have been developed for the diagnosis of HIV infection, i.e. detection of antibodies, antigen and proviral DNA. ELISA methods for detecting HIV-1 antibodies are widely used as screening assays. A sample which is repeatedly positive with ELISA is re-tested with a confirmatory test, e.g. western blot. Antibodies to HIV-1 are not detectable until 2-3 months after infection, but antigens may be detectable during the last weeks of this initial period, though they disappear with the appearance of the antibodies. In the later stages of HIV infection, HIV antigen is again detectable in a proportion of patients. Detection and quantitation of HIV antigen are used as indicators of disease progression and for monitoring the antiviral efficacy of therapeutic interventions. When no antibodies or antigens can be detected in persons suspected of having HIV infection, culture of HIV can be performed. For research purposes, detection of small amounts of proviral DNA can be made with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The method is not yet applicable in routine diagnosis of HIV infection.

Photography in treatment of tympanic membrane perforations

A photographic method which gives a large image on the film is used for recording perforations of the tympanic membrane and it may be valuable for comparing different methods of closure. A method for the treatment of minor perforations is also briefly mentioned.

Reversible hearing loss in tumours of the cerebello-pontine angle

A survey of the literature concerning reversible hearing loss in tumours of the cerebello-pontine angle is presented together with two additional cases. After removal of one meningioma and one epidermoid tumour, respectively, the abolished acoustico-vestibular function returned in both cases. The pre-requisites for the restoration of hearing are discussed.