Pseudomonas: Frequently Asked Questions
Pseudomonas is a bacteria ("germ") that belongs to a family of bacteria known as the "pseudomonads". Pseudomonads are very common bacteria that are usually found in water, soil and on plants. Most pseudomonads are harmless to humans, but some, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, can occasionally cause infections in humans.
Further information on pseudomonas is available here
Infectious disease figures for 2010 show decline in many common infections
The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has published its annual report on the incidence of notifiable diseases in Ireland during 2010.
The main findings are as follows:
Healthcare associated infections:
- MRSA bloodstream infections fell 14% in 2010 with 305 cases notified compared with 355 cases in 2009. MRSA rates in Ireland are now at their lowest rates since surveillance began in 1999.
- Cases of Clostridium difficile-associated disease fell by 11% in 2010 with 1,696 cases notified compared with 1,897 cases in 2009.
- Overall outpatient antibiotics consumed in 2010 fell by 2% in 2010 compared with 2009. However, hospital antimicrobial consumption rose by 4% for the same period. A recently launched HSE initiative on reducing unnecessary antibiotic usage aims to improve these figures next year.
Gastroenteric diseases:
- Cryptosporidiosis cases fell by 34% in 2010 with 294 cases notified compared with 445 cases in 2009.
- Verotoxigenic E. coli cases fell by 17% in 2010 with 199 cases notified compared with 241 cases in 2009. There is a marked urban / rural divide indicating that contact with farm animals and the use of private water supplies are potential sources of this infection.
- Campylobacter cases fell by 1% in 2010 with 1,661 cases notified compared with 1,807 cases in 2009. Campylobacter is the most common bacterial cause of gastroenteritis in Ireland.
Respiratory diseases:
- Provisional data for 2010 shows an 11% decline in TB cases with 427 cases provisionally notified compared with 479 cases in 2009.
Bloodborne and sexually transmitted infections:
- HIV cases fell by 21% in 2010 with 331 cases notified compared with 395 cases in 2009. The highest proportion of new HIV diagnosis in 2010 were among men who have sex with men (MSM), with 40.5% of newly diagnosed HIV cases occurring in this category. This trend has been observed in many European countries to such an extent that ECDC now recommends that interventions to control HIV among MSM should be the cornerstone of HIV prevention strategies in Europe.
- Hepatitis C cases remained largely the same in 2010 with 1,239 cases notified compared with 1,241 cases in 2009.
- Sexually transmitted infections (STI) fell by 4.1% in 2009 with 10,834 cases notified compared with 11,294 cases in 2008. The 2009 data is the latest available information for STIs.
Vaccine preventable diseases
- Invasive pneumococcal disease cases fell by 10% in 2010 with 391 cases notified compared with 432 cases in 2009. Invasive pneumococcal disease continues to decline following the introduction of the conjugate pneumococcal vaccine in 2008. During 2010 the incidence of all types of invasive pneumococcal disease fell by 25% compared with 2008 when the vaccine was first introduced. Sadly, in 2010, one death occurred from pneumococcal meningitis in a young child who was unvaccinated.
- Measles cases increased by 149% in 2010, with 403 cases notified compared with 162 cases in 2009. 108 of these cases were hospitalised in 2010. Forty separate measles outbreaks were reported during the year. Cases predominantly occurred in the traveller and Roma communities and amongst those who choose not to have their children vaccinated against vaccine preventable diseases. Other European countries also saw measles outbreaks during 2010.
- Mumps cases fell by 53% in 2010 with 293 cases reported were notified compared with 620 cases in 2009. Complications of this disease in 2010 included orchitis, deafness, pancreatitis, encephalitis and appendicitis.
Commenting on the publication of the report, HPSC director, Dr Darina O'Flanagan, said that the decline in many notifiable diseases was very welcome and was due to strong public health surveillance and hard work in the battle against infectious disease.
For example, the decline in healthcare associated infections will have been supported by a national hand hygiene observation audit tool and standard operating procedures for use in acute hospitals.
This was developed and piloted by HPSC, in conjunction with the Infection Prevention Society, in 2010 and was rolled out in 2011 with a programme of hospital hand hygiene auditor training. On a related issue, overall consumption of antibiotics in Ireland remains mid-to-high in comparison with other European countries but a recently launched HSE initiative on reducing unnecessary antibiotic usage should improve our ranking in Europe.
Vaccination remains an important and very effective way of combating many diseases. This is illustrated by the success of the conjugate pneumococcal vaccine which has led to a 25% reduction in all types of invasive pneumococcal disease in the two year period since its introduction. A catch-up MMR vaccination campaign is needed to control and eliminate the continued transmission of measles, mumps and rubella in Ireland as we saw a worrying number of measles outbreaks in Ireland and Europe during 2010.
The full report is available to view here.
At risk groups urged to get flu jab as first cases of winter influenza identified
The HSE–Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has urged people in at risk groups to get vaccinated against influenza following the identification of the first cases of Influenza A virus this winter.
The National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL) has identified two cases which were detected by a network of 60 sentinel general practices who report weekly on the number of patients with influenza-like illness. The network was established by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, in partnership with the Irish College of General Practitioners and the NVRL in 2000.
Commenting on the cases HPSC Director, Dr Darina O’Flanagan, said that while influenza activity in Ireland is low at present, people in at risk groups need to get vaccinated.
"The vaccine is available free of charge from GPs for all people in at risk groups, and from pharmacists for everyone aged 65 and over. An administration charge may apply to people who don't hold medical cards or GP visit cards.
"Those at risk include:
- Everyone aged 65 years and over
- Anyone over six months of age with a long term illness requiring regular medical follow-up such as chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease or diabetes
- Pregnant women
- Those with lower immunity due to disease or treatment
- Children or teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy
- Residents of nursing homes and other long stay facilities
- Healthcare workers and carers
"The 2010/2011 influenza season peaked in early January 2011 and over 2,000 cases of influenza were confirmed by the NVRL.
"Based on advice from the World Health Organization (WHO), this year's seasonal influenza vaccine protects against three common influenza virus strains - the H1N1 (swine flu) strain which is still circulating, influenza A (H3) and influenza B.
"People who were vaccinated last year still need to get their flu jab this year as immunity from the vaccine lasts twelve months and wanes over time.
"Flu is different from the common cold. Flu usually develops quickly over a matter of hours and symptoms include a high temperature, sore muscles, dry cough, headache and sore throat. The common cold tends to come on gradually and symptoms usually include a runny nose and a normal temperature. Anyone in the at-risk categories who develops influenza symptoms should contact their GP."
The weekly influenza surveillance reports along with further information on influenza and flu vaccine are available at www.hpsc.ie
