Eiset AH, Stensvold CR, Fuursted K, Nielsen HV, Wejse C. High prevalence of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus, Giardia, and
Blastocystis in asymptomatic Syrian asylum seekers in Denmark during 2016 through 2018.
J Migr Health 2021;
1-2:100016. [PMID:
34405169 PMCID:
PMC8352168 DOI:
10.1016/j.jmh.2020.100016]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
High prevalence of intestinal parasite colonisation; all were asymptomatic.
High prevalence of MRSA; low prevalence of ESBL and CPO.
Recommend attention to antimicrobial resistance when attending to Syrian refugees.
Recommend no routine screening for parasites in asymptomatic adult Syrian refugees.
Introduction
Concerns have been raised regarding the emergence of antimicrobial-resistance and parasitic infections in the European refugee population. Here, we estimated the prevalence of intestinal parasites and selected antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in newly arrived asylum seekers in Denmark.
Materials and methods
Using a cross-sectional one-stage cluster sample design, adult Syrian asylum seekers were included upon arrival in Denmark. Faecal samples were collected and tested for ova and parasites, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) and carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO). Throat swabs were collected and analysed for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
Results
We invited 121 eligible individuals (20% of the source population) from six different asylum centres to participate, of whom 113 agreed. Throat swabs and faecal samples were received from 104 and 48 participants, respectively. Seven individuals did not provide enough material for the entire panel of faecal analyses. Three individuals (7.3%, 95%CI: 2.5–19.4%) were colonised with Giardia intestinalis and 28 (68.3%, 95%CI: 53.0–80.4%) with Blastocystis sp. (subtypes 1 [n = 5], 2 [n = 9] and 3 [n = 14]). Seven individuals (6.7%, 95%CI: 3.3–13.3%) were colonised with MRSA and one with ESBL-E. None had CPO or Corynebacterium diphtheriae and none reported any gastro-intestinal symptoms.
Discussion
Even with the most conservative estimates, the prevalence of Giardia intestinalis, Blastocystis sp. and MRSA was high in this asymptomatic refugee population.
Conclusions
We highlight the importance of raised awareness of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria when attending to newly arrived Syrian refugees. Meanwhile, our data suggest that routine screening for intestinal parasites in this population is of limited clinical relevance.
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