Description of the largest cluster of tuberculosis notified in Norway 1997-2011: is the Norwegian tuberculosis control programme serving its purpose for high risk groups?

BACKGROUND: Approximately 90% of new tuberculosis (TB) cases notified in Norway are asylum seekers and other immigrants from high-incidence countries. Asylum seekers are screened upon arrival at the National Immigration Centre. Other immigrants receive a letter from the Municipal Health Services requesting that they present for screening in their municipality of residence. In order to identify potential areas where the TB control programme could be better adapted for these groups, we studied the largest cluster of TB cases ("cluster X") notified in Norway until 2011. METHODS: Cases were defined as TB notifications reported to MSIS between January 1997 and December 2011 with identical IS6110 RFLP assigned to cluster X. We described the cases in cluster X by using data from the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases (MSIS). Missing or incomplete information in MSIS was obtained from the National Reception Centre, Oslo University Hospital and Municipal Health services. RESULTS: Of a total of 44 individuals meeting the case definition, 36 originated from Somalia and eight from other high-incidence countries. Twenty nine were asylum seekers and 15 were other immigrants. Upon arrival, 18/44 had been diagnosed with latent TB infection (LTBI), 9/44 tested negative for LTBI and 4/44 had been diagnosed with active TB. Results of TB-screening upon arrival were not available for the remaining 13/44 (one asylum seeker and 12 other immigrants). Five of the 12 other immigrants had still not been screened for TB after staying one year or longer in Norway. CONCLUSIONS: Most cases in cluster X with available results of TB-screening were already infected at arrival, indicating that their disease could be due to endogenous reactivation, rather than recent transmission after arrival to Norway. TB-status upon arrival was unknown for many of the other immigrants due to lack of initial screening. The reasons why conduction of the initial screening among other immigrants is failing should be explored and methods to simplify the TB screening at arrival should be implemented.

Prompt effect of replacing the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine with the 13-valent vaccine on the epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease in Norway.

The introduction of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) in the childhood immunisation programme in Norway in 2006 substantially decreased the incidence of vaccine-type (VT) invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in all age groups. Additionally, a slight increase in the non-vaccine (NVT) serotype IPD incidence (serotype replacement) was observed. After replacing PCV7 with PCV13 in 2011, a further decrease in IPD incidence is expected. However, the protection by the six additional serotypes opens new nasopharyngeal niches for colonisation, which favours conditions for serotype replacement. Close monitoring of IPD therefore remains important in order to quickly detect changes. In this observational retrospective population-based cohort study we used data notified nationally between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2012 to determine the VT- and NVT-IPD incidences. The diversity in serotype distribution per year was analysed using the Simpson's index of diversity. Immunisation history of young children was obtained from the Norwegian Vaccination Registry to determine vaccine failure. The incidence of VT-IPD decreased in the targeted (<5 years) and non-targeted (≥5) age groups since PCV7 introduction and further decreased after the replacement with PCV13. Only two cases of vaccine failure were identified. This indicates very high effectiveness of the 2+1 schedules with PCV7 or PCV13 and suggests that non-vaccinated individuals profit through indirect protection. The decrease in incidence of PCV7-IPD in non-targeted age groups became larger in later years, indicating a lag phase for the indirect effects, and suggests that the indirect protection of PCV13 will increase in coming years. The incidence of some NVT, specifically serotypes 23B and 15A, increased after PCV13 introduction. This coincided with an increased Simpson's index of diversity in the targeted age group. As this suggests that serotype replacement is again occurring, continues monitoring of IPD is important so that adaptations to vaccine recommendations can be promptly issued.

Indirect effect of conjugate pneumococcal vaccination in a 2+1 dose schedule.

In 2006, the heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was introduced in the Norwegian Childhood Vaccination Programme in a 2+1 dose schedule; immunisations are administered at 3, 5 and 12 months. Changes in invasive pneumococcal disease in all ages from the baseline years 2004-2005 to 2008 were assessed, focusing on the indirect effect in the unvaccinated population. Following the introduction of PCV7, incidence rates of IPD caused by vaccine serotypes declined across all age groups, the decline being statistically significant for the age groups <5 years, 5-19 years, 40-64 years and > or = 65 years. In the unvaccinated population aged > or = 5 years the incidence rate of IPD caused by PCV7 serotypes declined by 48% from 12.34 cases/100,000 population to 6.44 cases/100,000 population, accounting for 74% of prevented cases of IPD in 2008. Among the adults aged > or = 65 years the incidence rate of IPD caused by serotypes not included in PCV7 increased. No vaccine failure was identified, indicating a very high effectiveness of the 2+1 dose schedule vaccination programme.