COVID-19 cases in spectators returning to Finland from UEFA Euro 2020 matches in Saint Petersburg.

UEFA Euro 2020 tournament was scheduled to take place in 2020, but due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was rescheduled to start on 11 June 2021. Approximately 4500 Finnish spectators participated, travelling between Finland and Russia during the period of 16 to 30 June to attend matches played on 16 and 21 June. A total of 419 persons returning from Russia or with a connection to Russia were detected positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Of the 321 sequenced samples 303 turned out to be of the Delta variant. None of these cases was hospitalised. In the following weeks findings of the Delta variant increased rapidly. Thus, EURO 2020 travel-related imported cases likely facilitated this rapid surge of Delta variant, but this impact would likely have been seen with the typical increase in the number of travellers entering Finland later in the summer.

Multiple norovirus outbreaks linked to imported frozen raspberries.

In 2009, the number of foodborne norovirus outbreaks in Finland seemed markedly high, and many outbreaks seemed to be linked to imported frozen raspberries. We reviewed the data regarding all notified foodborne outbreaks in 2009 in Finland in order to assess the magnitude of the problem and to summarize the information on raspberry-linked outbreaks. Between March and August, 13 norovirus outbreaks affecting about 900 people could be linked to imported frozen raspberries. Two raspberry samples corresponding to two batches of raspberries were positive for norovirus. These two batches proved to have been the likely source in six of the 13 outbreaks. Analytical studies had not been conducted for six outbreaks, and virological test results were inconclusive in two. However, combining epidemiological and microbiological methods often enabled finding the source, as exemplified in investigation of a large school outbreak. To ensure prompt control measures in similar situations in the future, both aspects of outbreak investigations should be strengthened.

Repeated prevalence surveys of healthcare-associated infections in Finnish neonatal intensive care units.

More than one-fifth of patients in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have been reported to suffer from healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The aim of this study was to assess prevalence, onset and types of HAI in Finnish NICU patients. We conducted six monthly point-prevalence surveys in all Finnish NICUs (N=24) between November 2008 and May 2009. For all patients present on the day of survey, the underlying conditions and invasive devices or treatments used on the day of survey and during the preceding six days were recorded on standardised forms. All HAIs active or under treatment on the day of survey were included. HAIs were categorised into early-onset (onset within the first 72 h of life) and late-onset (onset after the first 72 h of life) infections. During the six surveys, 1281 forms were obtained. Among them, 164 HAIs in 163 patients were identified (overall prevalence, 13%); 63 (38%) of the HAIs were late-onset infections (prevalence, 6.5%). Main types of HAI were clinical sepsis, laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection, conjunctivitis, and pneumonia. Of all HAIs, 24% were microbiologically confirmed. Patients with birth weight <1500 g suffered from late-onset HAIs more commonly than those with birth weight > or =1500 g (10% vs 4%, P<0.01). Also hospitalisation of > or =7 days was associated with increased prevalence of HAI (8% vs 3%, P=0.01). The study was useful in terms of increasing awareness of HAI in the participating NICUs. These results can be used to strengthen incidence surveillance of HAIs in the Finnish NICUs in the future.

Nosocomial bloodstream infections in children: an 8-year experience at a tertiary-care hospital in Finland.

Laboratory-based surveillance at a Finnish paediatric tertiary-care centre during the period 1999-2006 identified 739 nosocomial bloodstream infections (BSIs) (1.6 BSIs/1000 patient-days). High rates were detected among haematology patients (4.9 BSIs/1000 patient-days) and neonatology patients (3.2 BSIs/1000 patient-days). Most BSIs (95%) were primary infections, and 75% of those were associated with a central line. The most common pathogens were coagulase-negative staphylococci (52%), Staphylococcus aureus (7%) and Candida species (6%). The overall mortality rate within 7 days after the first positive blood culture was 3%. Those who died were more likely to have been admitted to an intensive-care unit or to have undergone surgery.