Susceptibility patterns in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Nuuk, Greenland, 2015-2018: a short communication.

Antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) has made gonorrhoea control and treatment more complex globally. In Greenland, the incidence of gonorrhoea is high and there is a need for continued surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility.This study investigated gonococcal isolates obtained in Greenland's capital Nuuk between January 2015 and June 2018. Subsequent to collection, isolates were tested for ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone susceptibility in order to monitor the resistance pattern among GC strains. 150 GC strains were isolated in Nuuk during the observation period (139 males, 93%; 11 females, 7%). All strains were fully susceptible to ceftriaxone. 49% of the GC strains were susceptible to ciprofloxacin. The median minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for ceftriaxone among GC strains resistant to ciprofloxacin was higher than among GC strains susceptible to ciprofloxacin. No differences in ciprofloxacin susceptibility and median MICs for ceftriaxone were observed by collection year. In conclusion no ceftriaxone resistance has been found in Nuuk to date. Continued easy access to diagnostics and treatment combined with increased and more systematic surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility in Nuuk is recommended. Further, it is advisable to investigate the possibilities for intermittent sampling in Greenland outside of Nuuk, if obstacles in relation to sending sampling material to Nuuk can be bypassed.

Basic differences in the health profile between seafarers from the Philippines and Denmark.

BACKGROUND: Seafarers in international trade are today recruited world-wide based on qualifications and costs. Health is another aspect. In this study, two cohorts of seafarers from the Philippines and Denmark undergoing pre-employment health examinations were compared. The purpose is to investigate differences in the outcome of the examinations and compare basic parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two cohorts of equal number of seafarers from the Philippines and Denmark were established. A total of 9,654 consecutive health examinations at a large clinic in the Philippines were compared with a group with the same size examined in a number of clinics in Denmark. The Filipino seafarers were screened according to different company standards whereas the Danish seafarers were examined according to statutory standards. RESULTS: The age structure was different. Only 18% of seafarers from the Philippines were 45 years of age or above whereas almost 43% of the Danish seafarers were in this age category. Obesity was frequent in both cohorts although depending on the standard used as reference. Extreme obesity (body mass index, above 35) was 10 times more frequent among the Danish seafarers. A total of 4.4% of the Filipino seafarers were declared unfit whereas only 0.5% were found unfit among the Danish seafarers. Among the latter, 5.2% were found fit with limitations, which is a category not used in the Philippines. CONCLUSIONS: The two groups are inhomogeneous and the health examinations the seafarers underwent differ. Comparisons should be done with caution. The difference in the age distribution of the two groups of seafarers is important factor due to the strong impact of age on health. Obesity was of major concern in both groups, although there were more with severe overweight and especially with extreme overweight among the Danish seafarers. Smoking frequency seems to be on the same level.