Staff's experiences of a pilot implementation of the SEXual health Identification Tool for assessing sexual ill health among visitors to Swedish youth clinics: A focus group study.

BACKGROUND: Young people are disproportionally burdened by sexual ill health. The SEXual health Identification Tool (SEXIT) was developed for use at youth clinics, to facilitate identification of visitors exposed to or at risk of sexual ill health. The aim of this study was to explore experiences of using SEXIT among youth clinic staff who participated in a pilot implementation, with a focus on usefulness, implementation determinants, and feasibility of implementing SEXIT at Swedish youth clinics. METHODS: Four focus group discussions were conducted with youth clinic staff from three clinics. The clinics had used SEXIT systematically in consultations with all visitors for one month. Data were analysed using qualitative analysis designed for focus groups. RESULTS: Most participants experienced that the SEXIT routines were well functioning and that using SEXIT gave a comprehensive picture of the visitor and resulted in more concrete answers, which facilitated the risk assessment. The medical staff experienced that they identified more youth at risk with SEXIT, while the psychosocial staff were less convinced. Existing challenges related to the routines at the clinics and heavy workload during drop-in hours. CONCLUSIONS: Staff experience SEXIT as useful for identifying young people exposed to or at risk of sexual ill health. Systematic use ensures consistency and quality in assessing the visitors, which may facilitate implementation. The use of SEXIT is challenged by heavy workload, conflicting routines, and the experience that some visitors identified through SEXIT decline further care. Implementation of SEXIT in Swedish youth clinics is considered feasible.

Sleep architecture, obstructive sleep apnea and functional outcomes in adults with a history of Tick-borne encephalitis.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a widespread viral infection of the central nervous system with increasing incidence in Europe and northern Asia. Post-infectious sequelae are frequent, and patients with TBE commonly experience long-term fatigue and subjective sleep disturbances. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be a contributing factor, and objective sleep studies with polysomnography (PSG) are lacking. Forty-two adults, 22 TBE patients (cases), diagnosed in Region Västra Götaland, Sweden, between 2012 and 2015, and 20 controls without a known TBE history, underwent an overnight PSG, respectively. All participants responded to questionnaires. The cases and controls were similar regarding age, sex, obesity, concomitant diseases, smoking, and alcohol habits. Despite similar PSG characteristics such as total sleep time and OSA severity indices, the TBE cases reported statistically more sleep-related functional impairment on the Functional Outcome of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ) compared with the controls (median scores 18.1 vs. 19.9; p<0.05). In a multivariate analysis, TBE correlated significantly with the lower FOSQ scores (unstandardized ß -1.80 [%95 confidence interval -3.02 - -0.58]; p = 0.005) independent of age, sex, total sleep time and apnea-hypopnea-index. TBE cases with OSA reported the lowest scores on the FOSQ compared with the other subgroups with TBE or OSA alone, and the ones with neither TBE nor OSA. TBE is associated with impaired functional outcomes, in which concomitant OSA may worsen the subjective symptoms. Further studies are warranted to determine the effect of treatment of concomitant OSA on functional outcomes with regard to optimal rehabilitation of TBE.

Environmental Contamination by Chlamydia trachomatis RNA Can Cause False-Positive Test Results in Clinical Samples.

ABSTRACT: An investigation of unexpected positive test results for Chlamydia trachomatis at a women's health clinic in Sweden revealed that samples were contaminated by RNA in the clinic. The risk for RNA contamination at a clinic has been postulated previously. We are, however, not aware that this has actually been demonstrated in practice.

STI with Mycoplasma genitalium-more common than Chlamydia trachomatis in patients attending youth clinics in Sweden.

The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in Sweden is well known, whereas the prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium is less well documented. Youth clinics offer free contraception advice, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and/or contact tracing for the age group 15-25 years. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of STIs, the presence of symptoms and the role of contact tracing. From July 2013 to March 2014, 1001 persons, 509 women and 492 men, were included in this study of six youth clinics in the Region of Västra Götaland. Symptoms were registered and whether the patient was tested because of contract tracing. Collection of urine samples, testing, treatment and disease registration were performed according to clinical routines. Urine samples were analysed for C. trachomatis/N. gonorrhoeae on the Cobas 4800 system (Roche). M. genitalium was analysed by lab-developed PCR. Genital infection was present in 16.8%. The prevalence of M. genitalium was higher than for C. trachomatis (9.6% and 7.1%). Men with symptoms have a significantly higher relative risk for infection with M. genitalium or C. trachomatis compared to asymptomatic men, while there is no increase for women. Contact tracing is important since positive outcome has a high relative risk for both infections. The prevalence of M. genitalium was higher than C. trachomatis in this study population. Initial testing for both C. trachomatis and M. genitalium should at least be considered for young men presenting with symptoms of genital infection. In finding positive cases, contact tracing is of great importance.

Two outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis associated with cattle spring pasture events.

Over a period of less than four weeks, 50 human cases of cryptosporidiosis were reported from a relatively small geographical area in Sweden. All cases were associated with visits to cattle spring pasture events at two farms (referred to as Farm A and B). Epidemiological and microbiological evidence show that contact with calves at the farms was the most likely source of Cryptosporidium infections. Gp60 sequences from human and calf isolates at Farm A were identical to each other, but differed from those at Farm B where, again, human and calf gp60 sequences were identical, proving that the two outbreaks had no common origin. As a direct consequence of these two outbreaks, and guided by knowledge gained from the outbreak investigations, the Swedish Board of Agriculture and all relevant farmer advisory organizations have updated their hygiene instructions for farm visits.

Diagnosing tick-borne encephalitis: a re-evaluation of notified cases.

We set out to investigate the serological response of TBE virus (TBEV)-specific IgM and IgG antibodies in stored serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in notified TBE patients, in order to confirm or reject the diagnosis. We applied the ELISA methods used in clinical practice, Enzygnost and Immunozym, and assessed RT-PCR as a diagnostic tool. A total of 173 TBE cases were notified to the Public Health Agency. Samples from 129 patients were eligible for the study. Stored serum samples were found for 111 patients and CSF samples for 88 patients. All serum samples were analyzed with both Enzygnost and Immunozym, as well as an additional 140 control samples. CSF samples, including samples from ten controls, were analyzed with Immunozym. RT-PCR for TBEV was performed on 126 serum, two whole blood, 96 CSF, two feces and four nasopharynx samples. Only two of 111 notified patients lacked detectable TBEV IgM in serum, from whom one sample was RT-PCR positive. According to the ECDC definition, 117/129 (90.7%) of the reported TBE cases were confirmed. Positive RT-PCR results were obtained in eight patients, one from whole blood and eight from serum samples. Four out of eight of the RT-PCR positive patients were TBEV-IgM positive and none had detectable TBEV-specific IgG. All of the tested CSF, feces and nasopharynx samples were RT-PCR-negative. TBEV-specific IgG was detected in 88.4% and IgM in 31.6% of the CSF samples. RT-PCR on serum samples and CSF IgG antibodies can be used as complementary methods in TBE diagnostics, not least early in the disease course.

[New regulations concerning EHEC/VTEC]. / Nya rutiner för smittskydds­åtgärder vid EHEC-infektion - Endast EHEC som bär på stx2-genen kan kopplas till HUS ­ dessa smittbärare måste avstängas från arbete eller förskola.

New regulations concerning EHEC/VTEC Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) is the most severe complication to an infection with EHEC (enterohemorrhagic E. coli), also called VTEC (verocytotoxin-producing E. coli). Risk of severe complications such as HUS is an important reason why the Swedish Communicable Diseases Act (Smittskyddslag. 2004:168) includes infection with EHEC. With very few exceptions, only EHEC with the stx2 gene is associated with HUS. According to the law, persons working with unpackaged foods, infants or severely immunocompromised patients, and children attending preschool can be suspended awaiting negative test results for EHEC. Symptom free carriers of EHEC-infection only harbouring the stx1 gene and without an epidemiological association to HUS need not be suspended from work or preschool.

A prospective study on the incidence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection after a tick bite in Sweden and on the Åland Islands, Finland (2008-2009).

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a common and increasing tick-borne disease in Europe. The risk of acquiring a Borrelia infection after a tick bite is not fully known. Therefore, we investigated the incidence of Borrelia infection after a bite by a Borrelia-infected tick and if the Borrelia load and/or the duration of tick-feeding influenced the risk of infection. During 2008-2009, ticks and blood samples were collected from 1546 tick-bitten persons from Sweden and the Åland Islands, Finland. Follow-up blood samples were taken 3 months after the tick bite. The duration of tick feeding was microscopically estimated and Borrelia was detected and quantified in ticks by real-time PCR. Anti-Borrelia antibodies were detected in sera using ELISA tests and immunoblot. Five percent (78/1546) of the study participants developed Borrelia infection (LB diagnosis and/or seroconversion) after a tick bite (45% bitten by Borrelia-infected ticks and 55% bitten by uninfected ticks). Of these, 33 developed LB (whereof 9 also seroconverted) while 45 participants seroconverted only. Experience of non-specific symptoms was more frequently reported by Borrelia-infected participants compared to uninfected participants. All who seroconverted removed "their" ticks significantly later than those who did not. The Borrelia load in the ticks did not explain the risk of seroconversion. Regional and sex differences in the Borrelia seroprevalence were found. The risk of developing a Borrelia infection after a bite by a Borrelia-infected tick is small but increases with the duration of tick feeding.

Legionnaires' disease from a cooling tower in a community outbreak in Lidköping, Sweden- epidemiological, environmental and microbiological investigation supported by meteorological modelling.

BACKGROUND: An outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease took place in the Swedish town Lidköping on Lake Vänern in August 2004 and the number of pneumonia cases at the local hospital increased markedly. As soon as the first patients were diagnosed, health care providers were informed and an outbreak investigation was launched. METHODS: Classical epidemiological investigation, diagnostic tests, environmental analyses, epidemiological typing and meteorological methods. RESULTS: Thirty-two cases were found. The median age was 62 years (range 36 - 88) and 22 (69%) were males. No common indoor exposure was found. Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 was found at two industries, each with two cooling towers. In one cooling tower exceptionally high concentrations, 1.2 × 109 cfu/L, were found. Smaller amounts were also found in the other tower of the first industry and in one tower of the second plant. Sero- and genotyping of isolated L. pneumophila serogroup 1 from three patients and epidemiologically suspected environmental strains supported the cooling tower with the high concentration as the source. In all, two L. pneumophila strains were isolated from three culture confirmed cases and both these strains were detected in the cooling tower, but one strain in another cooling tower as well. Meteorological modelling demonstrated probable spread from the most suspected cooling tower towards the town centre and the precise location of four cases that were stray visitors to Lidköping. CONCLUSIONS: Classical epidemiological, environmental and microbiological investigation of an LD outbreak can be supported by meteorological modelling methods.The broad competence and cooperation capabilities in the investigation team from different authorities were of paramount importance in stopping this outbreak.

A community outbreak of Legionnaires' disease from an industrial cooling tower: assessment of clinical features and diagnostic procedures.

An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease (LD) occurred in Lidköping, Sweden, in August 2004. A cooling tower was identified as the probable source of infection. During the outbreak period an unexpected 3-6-fold increase in pneumonia patients was noted at the local hospital. During 7 weeks LD was diagnosed in 15 patients by urinary antigen and/or sputum culture. Additionally, 15 LD patients were diagnosed later by serology. Patients with LD were generally younger, more healthy, and more often smokers compared to other pneumonia patients. On admittance they had more severe symptoms with high fever and raised CRP levels, and more often hyponatraemia, gastrointestinal and CNS symptoms. A causative agent besides Legionella was found in 2 patients only. A significant titre rise for Mycoplasma and/or Chlamydophila pneumoniae was found in 13 of 29 tested patients with confirmed LD. We conclude that the clinical diagnosis of LD is difficult and that available diagnostic methods detect only a minority of patients in the acute phase. Therefore in severe pneumonia, empirically targeted therapy should be instituted on clinical grounds irrespective of the results of diagnostic tests. The observation of increased antibody levels for M. and C. pneumoniae suggests an unspecific immune reaction and merits further study.