Search

Sales of over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays in Denmark from 2011 to 2023 have doubled. This article highlights the potential risks associated with prolonged use of decongestant nasal sprays, such as rhinitis medicamentosa. We conclude that there is an urgent need for increased patient education on proper use and possible side effects of over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays, as well as a need for more substantial data on side effects related to decongestant nasal sprays to guide health authorities in future regulation., (Published under Open Access CC-BY-NC-BD 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.)

Seal finger is an unusual infection in Denmark but is seen quite often in Greenland. A 69 year-old Danish man developed severe infection after cutting his finger on a sea urchin while handling a fishing net. Treatment with beta-lactam antibiotics had no effect. Standard culture from the lesion was negative. A Mycoplasma species was detected by PCR and DNA sequencing and subsequently cultured on special media. Specifically asked about exposure to sea mammals the patient could inform that a dead seal had also been trapped in the fishing net.

Approximately 100 cases of meningococcal disease are reported annually in Denmark; 90% of these cases are confirmed by culture and serological methods. Real-time PCR was introduced in Denmark in 2005 as a diagnostic tool for meningococcal disease. We hereby report the first notified case of meningococcal sepsis in Denmark where real-time PCR was the primary positive microbiological result.

Chancroid is caused by the bacterium Haemophilus ducreyi. It is a sexually transmitted disease causing a soft chancre with a necrotic base and purulent exudate. The incidence of this illness is very low in Denmark and is probably underestimated. The bacterium is very fragile in transport, and culture is often negative. The chance of demonstrating the bacterium is greatly enhanced by the use of molecular techniques. In this case, we report on a specific PCR test for H. ducreyi that was used to establish the diagnosis in a 40-year-old male.

Bacteremia and infectious endocarditis caused by Streptococcus bovis may be related to the presence of inflammation or neoplastic lesions in the large intestine. This report describes a 46-year-old woman who presented with infectious endocarditis caused by S. bovis associated with colonic tubular-villous adenoma. Demonstration of bacterial DNA by polymerase chain reaction and identification by DNA sequencing was performed to establish the diagnosis.

Bacillus anthracis, Francicella tularensis, Yersinia pestis, Burkholderia pseudomallei and Brucella melitensis are the bacteria most often mentioned in connection with possible biological terrorist acts. It is known that these microorganisms can be cultured and weaponised for such a purpose. This survey provides examples of the use of diagnostic methods for those microorganisms, further detailed in relation to establishing a national center for biological preparedness in Denmark.

Due to their acute toxicity, accessibility and history of use, ricin and botulinum toxins are at the present time the most relevant bioterror toxins. We give a brief review of their toxicity and possible uses in bioterror attacks and describe two cases in Denmark in which immunochemical, PCR and mass spectrometric assays developed in-house were used to confirm a foodborne botulinum toxin E case and to identify bovine serum albumin as the powder enclosed in a letter sent to the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen.

A decade ago we discovered a hitherto unrecognized Aerococcus-like organism (ALO) in urine specimens from patients with urinary tract infection. Further microbiological and clinical investigations enabled us to classify it as a human pathogen also causing urogenic septicaemia and endocarditis, the latter often with lethal outcome. The organism is now designated Aerococcus urinae.

The current status of cervical cancer treatment in Denmark is discussed. Diagnostic aspects and problems of classification are presented briefly supplemented with a comment on new prognostic parameters based on a semiquantitative score system and flow cytometry. Surgery is the treatment of election for the early stages whereas radiotherapy is the treatment of choice in advanced stages. Chemotherapy should only be employed in the framework of clinical trials. It is concluded that centralised treatment should be maintained.