International Union for Circumpolar Health Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of RF Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Medical Polar Fund “Science” The Northern Forum

Abstracts

Seminar Infection Diseases in Arctic

Background: The International Circumpolar Surveillance system conducts population-based surveillance of invasive bacterial diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae (Hi), Neisseria meningitidis (Nm), group A streptococcus (GAS), and group B streptococcus (GBS) in Greenland (GN), Northern Canada (N Can), Northern Sweden (N Swe) and the U.S. Arctic (Alaska [AK]).

Methods: Isolates from patients with invasive Hi, Nm, GAS, and GBS were forwarded to reference laboratories in Alaska (2000-2005), Canada (2000-2005), Greenland (2001-2004), and Sweden (2003-2004) for confirmation and serotyping. Clinical and demographic information were collected using standardized surveillance forms. Data reported for 2005 is preliminary.

Results: The total numbers of reported cases were 134 Hi, 45 Nm, 201 GAS, and 167 GBS. Crude annualized rates of invasive disease varied by country and organism with highest rates of Hi and GAS in N Can (7.53/100,000 and 4.57/100,000, respectively), Nm (3.54/100,000) in Greenland and GBS (3.52/100,000) in AK. AK and N Can Aboriginal people had consistently higher rates of disease (except GBS in N Can) than non-Aboriginals. Of the 118 Hi cases serotyped, 24 (20%) were Hib [AK 17 cases (rate 0.57), N Can 7 cases (rate 0.94)] and age ranged from <1 to 69 years; most Hib disease occurred in persons <2 years of age (AK=53%, N Can=86%). Thirty-six (31%) Hi cases were serotype a (Hia) [AK 10 cases (rate 0.29), N Can 26 cases (rate 3.50)]. Case fatality ratios (CFR) were higher in AK than N Can for invasive disease caused by Hi (AK=17.6%, N Can= 5.6%), Nm (AK=16.7%, N Can= 0%), and GBS (AK=11.4%, N Can=7.1%); GAS CFR was higher in N Can than AK (N Can=21.9%, AK=10.9%).

Conclusion: Aboriginal peoples of AK and N Can have high rates of invasive bacterial disease caused by Hi, Nm, and GAS. High overall rates of Hi occur in N Can; Nm in GN. Cases of invasive Hib disease continue to occur in children <2 years of age. Elevated CFRs in AK and N Can warrant further investigation

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

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Last update: 06-Jul-2012 (11:52:05)