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P Aavitsland

Publications and source records attributed to P Aavitsland.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Emerging Salmonella Enteritidis anaerogenic phage type 14b: outbreak in Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish travellers returning from Greece.

In July 2001, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (Folkehelseinstituttet, FHI) reported a cluster of Salmonella Enteritidis of phage type 14b infections in Norwegian travellers returning from Greece. An increase in the same uncommon phage type was also registered in Sweden and Finland at the same time. Cases of S. Enteritidis PT 14b in patients returning from Greece were reported in these three Nordic countries in 2001 (303 cases), 2002 (164 cases) and 2003 (199 cases). Case-control studies performed in 2001 in Norway and Sweden indicated that consumption of chicken was associated with illness. In 2002 and 2003, continuing case reports indicated that this uncommon phage type had probably become established in the Greek food chain. Tour operators were informed and contacts were made with Greek public health authorities. Because place of infection is not systematically included in most Salmonella notification systems, the S. Enteritidis phage type 14b outbreak reported here may represent only part of a larger outbreak among travellers visiting Greece. Infections are often reported only in the tourists' home countries and public health authorities in the tourist destinations may not be aware of the problem. Further collaboration between national institutes of public health in Europe is needed to detect outbreaks occurring among tourists.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Prevalence of nosocomial infections in hospitals in Norway, 2002 and 2003.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health initiated a national surveillance system for nosocomial infections in 2002. The system is based on two annual one-day prevalence surveys recording the four most common types of nosocomial infection: urinary tract infections; lower respiratory tract infections; surgical site infections and septicaemia. All acute care hospitals in Norway (N=76) were invited to participate in the four surveys in 2002 and 2003. The total prevalence of the four recorded nosocomial infections varied between 5.1% and 5.4% in the four surveys. In all surveys, nosocomial infections were located most frequently in the urinary tract (34%), followed by the lower respiratory tract (29%), surgical sites (28%) and septicaemia (8%). The prevalence surveys give a brief overview of the burden and distribution of nosocomial infections. The results can be used to prioritize further infection control measures and more detailed incidence surveillance of nosocomial infections.

Bias↗
PubMed2005

Communicable disease control in a migrant seasonal workers population: a case study in Norway.

Reliable data on the health status of migrant seasonal workers in Europe is scarce. Access to public health care for this population depends on national regulations, and their legal status in host countries. In this manuscript we describe a case study of a salmonellosis outbreak that occurred in Norway, and highlight the difficulties encountered in applying control measures in a population of seasonal migrant farm workers. Surveillance and control of infectious diseases need to be supported by legislation which makes implementation of control measures possible. Efforts have been made to improve the rights for migrants in Europe with regard to healthcare, but seasonal migrant workers still remain largely outsiders where these measures are concerned. Special attention should be given to this disadvantaged group in terms of social rights and healthcare. Preparedness plans should be improved to deal with contagious pathogens involving the seasonal migrant population.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMed2004

Prevalence of nosocomial infections and use of antibiotics in long-term care facilities in Norway, 2002 and 2003.

There were 42900 institution-beds in long-term care facilities for elderly persons in Norway in 2000. This is twice as many as in 1984. Of those living in an elderly people's care institution 77% were above 80 years. To determine the magnitude and distribution of nosocomial infections in such institutions, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health initiated a surveillance system. The system is based on two annual one-day prevalence surveys recording the four most common nosocomial infections: urinary tract infections, lower respiratory tract infections, surgical-site infections and skin infections, as well as antibiotic use. All long-term care facilities were invited to participate in the four surveys in 2002 and 2003. The total prevalence of the four recorded nosocomial infections varied between 6.6 and 7.3% in the four surveys. Nosocomial infections occurred most frequently in the urinary tract (50%), followed by infections of the skin (25%), of the lower respiratory tract (19%) and of surgical sites (5%). The prevalence of nosocomial infections was highest in rehabilitation and short-term wards, whereas the lowest prevalence was found in special units for persons with dementia. In all the surveys the prevalence of the four recorded nosocomial infections was higher than the prevalence of patients receiving antibiotics. The frequency of nosocomial infections in such facilities highlights the need for nosocomial infection surveillance in this population and a need to implement infection control measures, such as infection control programmes including surveillance of nosocomial infections.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2004

Case management of a multidrug-resistant Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 outbreak in a crisis context in Sierra Leone, 1999-2000.

From December 1999 to the end of February 2000, 4218 cases of dysentery were reported in Kenema district, southeastern Sierra Leone, by a Médecins Sans Frontières team operating in this region. Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 was isolated from the early cases. The overall attack rate was 7.5% but higher among children under 5 years (11.2%) compared to the rest of the population (6.8%) (RR = 1.6; 95% CI 1.5-1.8). The case fatality ratio was 3.1%, and higher for children under 5 years (6.1% vs. 2.1%) (RR = 2.9; 95% CI 2.1-4.1). A case management strategy based on stratification of affected cases was chosen in this resource-poor setting. Patients considered at higher risk of death were treated with a 5 day ciprofloxacin regimen in isolation centres. Five hundred and eighty-three cases were treated with a case fatality ratio of 0.9%. Patients who did not have signs of severity when seen by health workers were given hygiene advice and oral rehydration salts. This strategy was effective in this complex emergency.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Waterborne outbreak of gastroenteritis in a religious summer camp in Norway, 2002.

In July 2002 an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis occurred in a camp facility in western Norway during a 10-day seminar, with around 300 guests staying overnight and several day-time visitors. Environmental and epidemiological investigations were conducted to identify and eliminate the source of the outbreak, prevent further transmission and describe the impact of the outbreak. Of 205 respondents, 134 reported illness (attack rate, 65%). Multivariate analysis showed drinking water and taking showers at the camp-site to be significant risk factors. Secondary person-to-person spread among visitors or outside of the camp was found. Norovirus was identified in 8 out of the 10 stool samples analysed. Indicators of faecal contamination were found in samples from the private untreated water supply, but norovirus could not be identified. This outbreak investigation illustrates the importance of norovirus as a cause of waterborne illness and the additional exacerbation through person-to-person transmission in closed settings. Since aerosol transmission through showering contributed to the spread, intensified hygienic procedures such as isolation of cases and boiling of water may not be sufficient to terminate outbreaks with norovirus.

Camping↗
PubMed2004

Outbreak of Salmonella Livingstone infection in Norway and Sweden due to contaminated processed fish products.

In Europe, the number of reported sporadic human cases of Salmonella Livingstone infection is low, and outbreaks are rare. We report the largest S. Livingstone outbreak described in the literature having an identified source of infection. In February 2001, an increased incidence of infection caused by S. Livingstone was observed in Norway and Sweden. By July 2001, 44 cases were notified in Norway and 16 in Sweden. The median age was 63 years, and 40 were women. There were three deaths, and 22 patients were hospitalized. Based on standardized questionnaires and retrospective studies of S. Livingstone strains in Norway and Sweden, food items with egg powder were suspected, and S. Livingstone was subsequently recovered from a processed fish product at the retail level. Analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis documented that isolates from the fish product belonged to the same clone as the outbreak strain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Incidence of gastroenteritis in Norway--a population-based survey.

In 1999-2000 we conducted a one-year, retrospective population-based survey in Norway to estimate the incidence of gastroenteritis and study the association with selected exposures. A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 3000 persons selected at random from the population registry, with 250 persons being contacted each month. The response rate was 61%. The incidence of acute gastroenteritis was 1.2 per person-year. The incidence was higher for women than for men. Of the total of 171 cases, 29 (17%) consulted a physician, 13 (8%) reported that a stool sample was taken, and 7 (4%) were admitted to hospital. Among children aged less than 15 years, drinking water from a private water supply was associated with illness, while using chlorinated water was protective. Among adults aged 20-40 years, travelling abroad was associated with illness. The incidence in our survey is similar to rates found by FoodNet in United States.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Impact of antenatal HIV screening to prevent HIV infection in children in Norway 1987-99.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the antenatal HIV screening programme in Norway in preventing HIV infection in children. SETTING: Norway, 1987-99. METHODS: In a simulated retrospective cohort design data were used from the mandatory HIV surveillance system to compare the observed number of children born infected with HIV in Norway 1987-99 to the expected number without the antenatal screening programme. The main measures were relative and absolute performance of the screening programme. Other measures were uptake and false positive rate of screening, and number and exposure category of screen positive women. RESULTS: 96% of 961 000 eligible pregnant women were tested. 0.1% had an indeterminate test result and 46 women (5.0/100 000) were confirmed screen positive. 27 were African or south east Asian women infected before immigration to Norway. Nine out of 739 000 live born children (1.2/100 000) were infected compared with the expected 18 with no screening. The absolute impact of the screening programme was 1.3 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) -0.1 to 2.7) prevented infections in 100 000 women screened. The relative preventive impact was 51% (-15% to 81%). CONCLUSIONS: The limited absolute impact is because of the very low prevalence of undetected HIV infection among pregnant women in Norway.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed2001

[HIV infection from Africa to Norway].

BACKGROUND: More than two thirds of the world's HIV infected persons live in Africa. Africans seek asylum in Norway and some Norwegians work for longer periods in Africa. We used the Norwegian surveillance system for communicable diseases (1983-99) to assess the connections between the Norwegian and African epidemics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We estimated the incidence of HIV infection in persons from Norway who acquired HIV from Africans, and measured the annual number of Africans diagnosed in Norway. RESULTS: Out of the 2,016 cases of HIV infection ever diagnosed in Norway (population 4.4 million), 489 (24%) had connections to Africa. 80 persons from Norway have been infected in Africa, usually during work for aid agencies. 39 persons have been infected by Africans in Norway. For both groups the annual number of new cases was 0-2 in 1997-99. Cumulatively, 370 Africans have been diagnosed with HIV infection acquired before immigration. Median time from immigration to diagnosis is three months. INTERPRETATION: Currently, few Norwegians are infected by Africans in Norway or Africa. African immigrants constitute an increasing proportion of the HIV positive population in Norway. This is a challenge to the health services and to society at large.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Anonymous reporting of HIV infection: an evaluation of the HIV/AIDS surveillance system in Norway 1983-2000.

Several European countries are considering implementing surveillance systems for HIV infection, but questions remain regarding patient confidentiality. The population-based HIV/AIDS surveillance system in Norway integrates anonymous HIV case reports from laboratories and clinicians and named AIDS case reports. This evaluation includes a description of the system, evidence of system attributes, estimation of resources for system operations, and documentation of the system's usefulness. HIV case reports provide a far better picture of the epidemic than AIDS reports. The median delay between positive HIV test and reporting was 30 days (interquartile range 18-49 days). Completeness of demographic and epidemiologic information in the surveillance database ranges from 60 to 100%. Information on pre-AIDS mortality and emigration is incomplete. The system cost euro 25,200 in 1999. Results are published every week and used for planning of health care and prevention. We conclude that the Norwegian surveillance system with anonymous reporting of HIV cases is simple, inexpensive and flexible, and capable of providing a representative and timely overview that guides prevention. The system fulfils its objectives while respecting confidentiality and adhering to ethical principles. A similar system may be considered in other countries.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗