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Norovirus strains belonging to the GII.4 genotype dominate as a cause of nosocomial outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis in Sweden 1997-2005 - Arrival of new variants is associated with large nation-wide epidemics

Johansen, Kari ; Mannerqvist, Kerstin ; Allard, Annika ; Andersson, Yvonne ; Burman, Lars G. ; Dillner, Lena LU ; Hedlund, Kjell-Olof ; Jonsson, Klas ; Kumlin, Urban and Leitner, Thomas , et al. (2008) In Journal of Clinical Virology 42(2). p.129-134
Abstract
Background: In recent years an increase of the incidence of nosocomial outbreaks caused by noroviruses has been observed throughout Sweden, with high peaks noted in the winter seasons 2002/2003 and 2004/2005, respectively. Objectives: To phylogenetically characterize norovirus strains causing nosocomial outbreaks from 1997 to 2005 and estimate the impact of norovirus-like disease on the Swedish health care system during the peak season 2002/2003 when a new variant of norovirus occurred. Study design: Stool samples from 115 randomly selected nosocomial outbreaks occurring during 1997-2005 throughout Sweden were studied by RT-PCR and sequencing. In addition, to investigate the impact on the health-care system, a questionnaire was distributed... (More)
Background: In recent years an increase of the incidence of nosocomial outbreaks caused by noroviruses has been observed throughout Sweden, with high peaks noted in the winter seasons 2002/2003 and 2004/2005, respectively. Objectives: To phylogenetically characterize norovirus strains causing nosocomial outbreaks from 1997 to 2005 and estimate the impact of norovirus-like disease on the Swedish health care system during the peak season 2002/2003 when a new variant of norovirus occurred. Study design: Stool samples from 115 randomly selected nosocomial outbreaks occurring during 1997-2005 throughout Sweden were studied by RT-PCR and sequencing. In addition, to investigate the impact on the health-care system, a questionnaire was distributed to infection control units (n = 90) serving all Swedish hospitals, nursing homes and other health-care institutions during the largest epidemic of nosocomial outbreaks. Results: Sequencing of 279 nucleotides of the norovirus RNA polymerase gene in stools containing norovirus RNA showed that strains belonging to the GII.4 genotype dominated. Each of the two large epidemics was due to a new variant within this cluster. The questionnaire revealed that 30,000-35,000 episodes of nosocomial norovirus-like infections occurred in 80 of 82 major Swedish hospitals affected in 2002/2003. Conclusion: New norovirus variants within the cluster GGII.4 may have a major impact on the health-care system. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
health-care associated infections, norovirus, molecular epidemiology
in
Journal of Clinical Virology
volume
42
issue
2
pages
129 - 134
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000256991500003
  • scopus:44149096682
  • pmid:18304864
ISSN
1386-6532
DOI
10.1016/j.jcv.2007.12.012
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1d49a2b6-35a5-4166-a8dc-481adc139bd1 (old id 1190632)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:09:09
date last changed
2022-01-26 23:30:52
@article{1d49a2b6-35a5-4166-a8dc-481adc139bd1,
  abstract     = {{Background: In recent years an increase of the incidence of nosocomial outbreaks caused by noroviruses has been observed throughout Sweden, with high peaks noted in the winter seasons 2002/2003 and 2004/2005, respectively. Objectives: To phylogenetically characterize norovirus strains causing nosocomial outbreaks from 1997 to 2005 and estimate the impact of norovirus-like disease on the Swedish health care system during the peak season 2002/2003 when a new variant of norovirus occurred. Study design: Stool samples from 115 randomly selected nosocomial outbreaks occurring during 1997-2005 throughout Sweden were studied by RT-PCR and sequencing. In addition, to investigate the impact on the health-care system, a questionnaire was distributed to infection control units (n = 90) serving all Swedish hospitals, nursing homes and other health-care institutions during the largest epidemic of nosocomial outbreaks. Results: Sequencing of 279 nucleotides of the norovirus RNA polymerase gene in stools containing norovirus RNA showed that strains belonging to the GII.4 genotype dominated. Each of the two large epidemics was due to a new variant within this cluster. The questionnaire revealed that 30,000-35,000 episodes of nosocomial norovirus-like infections occurred in 80 of 82 major Swedish hospitals affected in 2002/2003. Conclusion: New norovirus variants within the cluster GGII.4 may have a major impact on the health-care system. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Johansen, Kari and Mannerqvist, Kerstin and Allard, Annika and Andersson, Yvonne and Burman, Lars G. and Dillner, Lena and Hedlund, Kjell-Olof and Jonsson, Klas and Kumlin, Urban and Leitner, Thomas and Lysen, Maria and Thorhagen, Margareta and Tiveljung-Lindell, Annika and Wahlström, Cecilia and Zweygberg-Wirgart, Benita and Widell, Anders}},
  issn         = {{1386-6532}},
  keywords     = {{health-care associated infections; norovirus; molecular epidemiology}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{129--134}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Journal of Clinical Virology}},
  title        = {{Norovirus strains belonging to the GII.4 genotype dominate as a cause of nosocomial outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis in Sweden 1997-2005 - Arrival of new variants is associated with large nation-wide epidemics}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcv.2007.12.012}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.jcv.2007.12.012}},
  volume       = {{42}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}