Survey of Invasive Bacterial Diseases in Greenland
Author Information
Author(s): Meyer Annette, Ladefoged Karin, Poulsen Peter, Koch Anders
Primary Institution: Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
Hypothesis
What are the microbiologic causes and incidence trends of invasive bacterial diseases in Greenland from 1995 to 2004?
Conclusion
The study found that Streptococcus pneumoniae, E. coli, and S. aureus were the most common bacteria causing invasive diseases in Greenland, with significant differences in incidence based on ethnicity and region.
Supporting Evidence
- The incidence of invasive disease caused by S. pneumoniae is significantly higher in Inuit populations than in non-Inuit populations.
- The overall incidence of invasive bacterial isolates increased from 17.9/100,000 in 1995 to 79/100,000 in 2004.
- Gram-positive bacteria were found in 67% of invasive disease cases, indicating a shift in the microbiologic causes of bacteremia.
Takeaway
This study looked at sick people in Greenland to find out what germs were making them sick and found that some germs are more common in native people than in others.
Methodology
The study used laboratory data from a 10-year period to identify bacterial isolates and trends in incidence, with demographic information obtained from the Civil Registration System.
Potential Biases
There is a risk of bias due to differences in sample submission practices between Nuuk and the districts.
Limitations
The study may have underestimated the true incidence of invasive diseases due to potential sampling bias and lack of information on total submitted samples.
Participant Demographics
The population of Greenland is predominantly native Greenlanders (86%), with the rest being mostly Caucasians, primarily Danes.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.07
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.1–2.9 for Greenlanders compared to Danes; 95% CI 2.7–4.4 for Nuuk compared to districts
Statistical Significance
p=0.07
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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