P3-0083 — Annual report 2015
1.
Prevalence, genotyping and macrolide resistance of Mycoplasma pneumoniae among isolates of patients with respiratory tract infections, Central Slovenia, 2006 to 2014

In this retrospective study we employed real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to analyse the occurrence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae among upper and lower respiratory tract infections (RTI) in the Central Region of Slovenia between January 2006 and December 2014. We also used a culture and pyrosequencing approach to genotype strains and infer their potential macrolide resistance. Of a total 9,431 tested samples from in- and out-patient with RTI, 1,255 (13%) were found to be positive by M. pneumoniae PCR. The proportion of positive samples was 19% (947/5,092) among children (%16 years-old) and 7% (308/4,339) among adults ()16 years-old). Overall, among those PCR tested, the highest proportions of M. pneumoniae infections during the study period were observed in 2010 and 2014. In these two years, 18% (218/1,237) and 25% (721/2,844) of samples were positive respectively, indicating epidemic periods. From the 1,255 M. pneumoniae PCR-positive samples, 783 (614 from paediatric and 169 from adult patients) were successfully cultured. Of these, 40% (312/783) were constituted of strains belonging to the P1 type II genomic group, while 60% (469/783) contained strains of the P1 type I group. Two isolates comprised both P1 type I and II strains. Results of a genotype analysis by year, showed that the dominant M. pneumoniae P1 type during the 2010 epidemic was P1 type II (82% of isolates; 81/99), which was replaced by P1 type I in the 2014 epidemic (75%; 384/510). This observation could indicate that the two epidemics may have been driven by a type shift phenomenon, although both types remained present in the studied population during the assessed period of time. Only 1% of strains (7/783) were found to harbour an A2063G mutation in the 23S rRNA gene, which confers macrolide resistance, suggesting that the occurrence of M. pneumoniae macrolide resistance still seems to be sporadic in our geographic area.

F.35 Other

COBISS.SI-ID: 32184281
2.
Active lifestyle tracking to increase health, strength and longevity - boosting work productivity and reducing sick leave : 3. international scientific symposium : proceedings.

Organisation of 3 international symphosium about life-style interventions and Proceedings editor (Alojz Ihan)

B.01 Organiser of a scientific meeting

COBISS.SI-ID: 279245056
3.
Secretary General and President-Elect of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID)

European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) has been an influential component in the professional lives of microbiologists and infectious disease specialists and now reaches more than 35,000 members and affiliated members around the world. The society organizes the largest scientific meetings in the fields of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), which are attended by more than 11,000 participants. M. Poljak is currently the Secretary General and President-Elect of ESCMID and will serve as the President of the society from 2016-2018.

D.03 Membership in foreign/international boards/committees

4.
Gastrointestinal infections

Proceedings of the annual meeting of Slovenian microbiologists and immunologists organized by Slovenian Society for Clinical Microbiology and Hospital Infections, Slovenian Medical Association and the The National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food (Department of Novo mesto). The topic of this year's meeting was "Gastrointestinal Infections". Several members of the research group contributed to the organization of the meeting and the preparation of the proceedings (editor, contributing authors, organizing committee). Research group contributions represent results of several long term extensive studies of gastrointestinal infections carried out both in Slovenia and in Europe. The proceedings present a unique collection of information on the subject of gastrointestinal infections in Slovenian language.

C.02 Editorial board of a national monograph

COBISS.SI-ID: 32317401
5.
Preparedness plan to the emergence of West Nile virus in Slovenia

The emergence and circulation of West Nile virus (WNV) has been confirmed in all neighbouring countries. The largest number of confirmed patients with WNV were detected near the Slovenian-Croatian border (Zagreb and surroundings) in 2013, followed by cases from the province of Udine, Italy, since 2012, and in Hungary, in areas close to the Slovenian border in 2010. In Austria WNV was demonstrated in birds and mosquitoes in 2008, retrograde are testing of suspected patients revealed WNV caused meningoencephalitis in three patients in 2009 and 2010. In Slovenia, in august 2013, the first case of acute infection with WNV was confirmed. Epidemiological, epizoological and entomological data from neighbouring countries suggest the possibility that WNV has already previously appeared in Slovenia, but has not been detected. Also, there is a substantial possibility of a wider outbreak of WNV in Slovenia. In case of emergence of a larger number of patients infected with WNV (an asymptomatic disease, West Nile fever or nevroinvasive form of the disease), it is necessary to take appropriate action to bring together the knowledge of experts, to include decision-makers from different departments and to gain the support of the general public in order to cope with outbreak. The aim of preparedness action was to connect a network of experts from various fields who will regularly exchange key information, to set up recommendations for enhanced monitoring and action at the onset patients and identify approaches for monitoring the occurrence and spread of non-native species of mosquito infection with WNV in wild birds and approaches to the study of infection of birds and mosquitoes with WNV in Slovenia.

F.30 Professional assessment of the situation

COBISS.SI-ID: 280329728