Invasive pneumococcal disease in New Zealand 1998-2005: capsular serotypes and antimicrobial resistance

Isolates from 3903 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) were referred to the national reference laboratory over the 8 years, 1998-2005, as part of the laboratory-based surveillance of this disease in New Zealand. All isolates were serotyped and their antimicrobial susceptibility was tested. The incidence of IPD was highest in young children, with an average annual incidence of 100.8/100,000 in infants aged <2 years. There were changes in the prevalence of several of the serotypes during the 8-year period. Overall the seven serotypes included in the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F and 23F, were the most common serotypes and accounted for 80.9% of the disease in infants aged <2 years. There was no overall change in penicillin resistance or non-susceptibility during the 8 years, and rates were 7.1% and 17.1%, respectively, in 2005. In contrast, cefotaxime and erythromycin resistance increased to reach 3.1% and 12.2%, respectively, by 2005.     

Cancer incidence in Gipuzkoa, Spain (1998-2002), and time trends from 1986

OBJECTIVES: To determine the cancer incidence in Gipuzkoa (Spain) from 1998 to 2002 and describe time trends since 1986. METHODS: The annual incidence of cancer in Gipuzkoa from 1998 to 2002 was estimated as a rate per 100,000 inhabitants. Incidence trends for the period 1986-2002 were studied for all cancers and for the main cancer sites using Poisson regression and Joinpoint regression for prostate tumours. RESULTS: On average, one in 3 men and one in 5 women would probably be diagnosed with cancer at some time during their life (0-74 years). Among men, prostate surpassed lung as the most frequent cancer site. Among women, breast cancer represented approximately 30% of all cases of cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers). There was an annual increase in the incidence of cancer of 1.5% (95% CI, 1.1-1.8) in men and 0.9% (95% CI, 0.5-1.3) in women. The incidence of prostate cancer in men increased over the study period, and especially between 1996 and 1999, with an annual increase of 34.7% (95% CI, 5.9-71.5). The incidence of lung cancer in women presented an annual increase of 5.2% (95% CI, 3.4-7.1). In contrast, the incidence of stomach cancer decreased during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer incidence in Gipuzkoa increased during the study period. This increase was particularly marked in lung cancer and skin melanoma, for which preventive strategies are fundamental.     

Hospital admissions for pertussis in Spain, 1995-1998

This epidemiological survey was undertaken to estimate the annual burden of hospitalizations for pertussis in Spain during a four-year period 1995–1998. Data were obtained from the national surveillance system for hospital data. All hospital discharges for pertussis (ICD-9- CM 033) were analyzed. The annual incidence of hospitalization for pertussis was 1.7 per 100,000 population. Eighty-nine percent of the cases were <1 year of age (incidence of 78 per 100,000) and 95% were ≤5 years of age (incidence of 28 per 100,000). During the study period, 14 deaths were reported among patients hospitalized by pertussis. Despite of the high inmunization rates, many pertussis cases occur each year, mostly of them among very young children.     

Epsilonproteobacteria in humans, New Zealand

Using PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, we examined 49 fecal samples from healthy volunteers and 128 diarrhea specimens to assess the distribution of Epsilonproteobacteria that might be routinely overlooked. Our results suggest that certain taxa that are not routinely examined for could account for a proportion of diarrhea of previously unknown etiology.     

New Alphacoronavirus in Mystacina tuberculata Bats,New Zealand

Because of recent interest in bats as reservoirs of emerging diseases, we investigated the presence of viruses in Mystacina tuberculata bats in New Zealand. A novel alphacoronavirus sequence was detected in guano from roosts of M. tuberculata bats in pristine indigenous forest on a remote offshore island (Codfish Island).     

Endemic goitre in Australia,New Zealand,and Melanesia

The Australian States in which endemic-goitre areas are known to exist are New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria. These are the only States that have introduced legislation concerning the iodization of salt. Some evidence is available which suggests that parts of northern Queensland may also be mildly goitrous. Iodine prophylaxis, in the form of a 10-mg tablet of potassium iodide given weekly to pregnant and lactating women, infants, children, and adolescents, was introduced by the Australian Department of Health in 1947. The scheme started in Canberra, and was later extended to Tasmania and parts of Victoria.     

昆明市儿童医院1998～2001年轮状病毒哨点监测分析

目的 了解昆明市轮状病毒腹泻的流行状况。方法 以昆明市儿童医院为哨点监测,监测对象为5岁以下腹泻住院患儿,收集患儿的临床资料和粪便标本进行轮状病毒的检测和分型。病毒检测用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(PAGE)和酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA),毒株分型用ELISA和/或反转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)。结果 3年监测中共收集466份腹泻患儿的粪便标本,轮状病毒的检出率为52.8％(246/466)。轮状病毒感染97％发生于2岁以下儿童。感染有明显的季节性,10～12月份是流行季节。对204份轮状病毒阳性标本进行G分型,G1型为流行优势株,占47.5％,其次为G2型(17.6％)、G3型(15.7％)G9型(4.9％)和G4型(1.0％)。P基因型以P[4]、P[8]和P[6]型为常见。最常见的P-G组合型是P[4]G2,占34.1％(14/41),其次是P[8]G1和P[6]G9,分别占29.3％(12/41)和12.2％(5/41),还有其他7种不常见的P-G组合的毒株类型。结论 轮状病毒是昆明地区儿童腹泻住院的主要病原,毒株呈现型的多样性,应该开发和应用轮状病毒疫苗预防控制其流行。     

Resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to 3 antimalarials in Turbo (Antioquia, Colombia), 1998]

In 1998 we determined in vivo and in vitro the frequency and the degree of resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to the three antimalarials (chloroquine, amodiaquine, and sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine) most utilized in the municipality of Turbo (in the area of Urabá, Antioquia, Colombia), in a sample representative of the population with malaria. We carried out clinical and parasitological analyses over a 14-day period using the standard test recommended by the World Health Organization. In vivo, P. falciparum showed resistance to chloroquine, amodiaquine, and sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine, with a frequency of 97%, 7%, and 13%, respectively. In vitro, the corresponding figures were 21%, 23%, and 9%, respectively. For chloroquine the level of agreement between the in vivo and in vitro results was 23%.     

Climate and respiratory disease in Auckland,New Zealand

Objective: Increases in the incidence of diseases are often observed during the cold winter months, particularly in cities in temperate climates. The study aim is to describe daily, monthly and seasonal trends in respiratory hospital admissions with climate in Auckland, New Zealand. Methods: Daily hospital admissions for total respiratory infections or inflammations (RII), total bronchitis and asthma (BA), and total whooping cough and acute bronchitis (TWCAB) for various age groups and ethnicities were obtained for the Auckland Region and compared with climate parameters on daily, monthly and seasonal time scales. Results: Seasonal and monthly relationships with minimum temperature were very strong (p<0.001) for RII over all age groups, for BA in the older age groups (14‐64, 65+) and for TWCAB in the <1 year old age group. European, NZ Māori and Pacific Islanders all showed increases in admissions as temperatures decreased. Pacific Islanders were particularly susceptible to RII. There was a lag in admissions of three to seven days after a temperature event. Conclusions and Implications: Results show that increases in respiratory admissions are strongly linked to minimum temperatures during winter, typical of cities with temperate climates and poorly‐insulated houses. There are implications for hospital bed and staffing planning in Auckland hospitals.