Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/11394
Title
Detection of norovirus infections in Denmark, 2011-2018.
Author(s)
Date issued
2020
Citation
Epidemiol Infect. 2020 Feb 17;148:e52.
Language
Inglés
Document type
journal article
Abstract
Norovirus (NoV) infections occur very frequently yet are rarely diagnosed. In Denmark, NoV infections are not under surveillance. We aimed to collect and describe existing laboratory-based NoV data. National NoV laboratory data were collected for 2011-2018, including information on patient identification number, age and sex, requesting physician, analysis date and result. We defined positive patient-episodes by using a 30-day time window and performed descriptive and time series analysis. Diagnostic methods used were assessed through a survey. We identified 15 809 patient-episodes (11%) out of 142 648 tested patients with an increasing trend, 9366 in 2011 vs. 32 260 in 2018. This corresponded with a gradual introduction of polymerase chain reaction analysis in laboratories. The highest positivity rate was in patients aged <5 years (15%) or >85 years (17%). There was a large difference in test performance over five Danish geographical regions and a marked seasonal variation with peaks from December to February. This is the first analysis of national NoV laboratory data in Denmark. A future laboratory-based surveillance system may benefit public health measures by describing trend, burden and severity of seasons and possibly pinpoint hospital outbreaks.
Subject
Epidemiology | Norwalk agent and related viruses | Hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections | Norovirus | Surveillance
MESH
Caliciviridae Infections | Disease Outbreaks | Adolescent | Adult | Aged | Aged, 80 and over | Child | Child, Preschool | Denmark | Female | Humans | Infant | Infant, Newborn | Male | Middle Aged | Seasons | Young Adult
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