Responsibilities
Global health, global preparedness, Infection prevention and control, public health institutional strengthening, international collaboration in health.
Background
Medical Doctor with master’s in communicable disease epidemiology from LSH&TM and a PhD from Medical Faculty at UiO in outbreak epidemiology. Worked most of the career at NIPH with infection control, surveillance, guidance, pandemic preparedness and planning, and infection prevention and control (IPC). In recent years, worked more in global health and strengthening of public health institute functions in low- and middle-income countries, and in particular with organizational building, infection control and emergency preparedness.?
Projects and publications
- Kirsten Midttun Gravningen, Oliver Kacelnik, Egil Lingaas, Torunn Pedersen, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, (2022). Pseudomonas aeruginosa countrywide outbreak in hospitals linked to pre-moistened non-sterile washcloths, Norway, October 2021 to April 2022. Eurosurveillance s. 1-6. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.18.2200312
- Ngozi A. Erondu, Afifah Rahman-Shepard, Mishal S. Khan, Ebba Abate, Emmanuel Agogo, Evelien Belfroid, Osman Dar, Angela Fehr, Lara Hollman, Chikwe Ihekweazu, Aamer Ikram, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Alemnesh Hailemariam Mirkuzie, Tayyab Razi Rathore, Neil Squires, Ebere Okereke, (2021). Improving National Intelligence for Public Health Preparedness: a methodological approach to finding local multi-sector indicators for health security. BMJ Global Health doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004227
- Emily MacDonald, Bernardo Rafael Guzmán Herrador, Susanne Hyllestad, Vidar Lund, Karin Maria Nygård, Line Vold, Mohamed Lafi, Walaa Ammar, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, (2016). Water usage in the Gaza Strip: recommendations from a literature review and consultations with experts. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal s. 910-918. doi: 10.26719/2016.22.12.910
- Arild Vaktskjold, Mohammad Yaghi, Usama Balawi, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Wendy Venter, (2016). The mortality in Gaza in July-September 2014: a retrospective chart-review study. Conflict and Health s. 1-10. doi: 10.1186/s13031-016-0077-6
- Jon Michael Gran, Oliver Kacelnik, Andrej Grjibovski, Preben Aavitsland, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, (2013). Counting pandemic deaths: comparing reported numbers of death from influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 with estimated excess mortality. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses s. 1370-1379. doi: 10.1111/irv.12125
- Birgitte Freiesleben De Blasio, Yiting Xue, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Jon Michael Gran, (2012). Estimating influenza-related sick leave in Norway: Was work absenteeism higher during the 2009 A(H1N1) pandemic compared to seasonal epidemics?. Eurosurveillance s. 15-25.
- Petter Elstrøm, Oliver Kacelnik, Tone Bruun, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Siri Helene Hauge, Preben Aavitsland, (2012). Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Norway, a low-incidence country, 2006-2010. Journal of Hospital Infection s. 36-40. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2011.10.004
- Birgitte Freiesleben De Blasio, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Gianpaolo Scalia Tomba, (2012). Effect of vaccines and antivirals during the major 2009 a(H1N1) pandemic wave in Norway – and the influence of vaccination timing. PLOS ONE doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030018
- Agnes Hajdu, Hanne-Merete Eriksen, Nina Sorknes, Siri Helene Hauge, Hege Line Magnussen Løwer, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Preben Aavitsland, (2011). Evaluation of the national surveillance system for point-prevalence of healthcare-associated infections in hospitals and in long-term care facilities for elderly in Norway, 2002-2008. BMC Public Health doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-923
- S Kalenic, B Cookson, R Gallagher, W Popp, A Asensio-Vegas, O Assadian, A Blok, S Brussafero, A Eastaway, Petter Elstrøm, M Girod Schreinerova, P Hartemann, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, B Jans, A Jul-Jorgensen, W Koller, A Kramer, D Laugesen, M Licker, K Mannerquist, B Nussbaum, P Parneix, T de Ruiter, E Tvenstrup Jensen, L Ummels, K-D Zastrow, (2010). Comparison of recommendations in national/ regional Guidelines for prevention and control of MRSA in thirteen European countries. International Journal of Infection Control doi: 10.3396/ijic.V6i2.016.10
- Jon Michael Gran, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Olav Hungnes, Odd O. Aalen, (2010). Estimating influenza-related excess mortality and reproduction numbers for seasonal influenza in Norway, 1975-2004. Epidemiology and Infection s. 1559-1568. doi: 10.1017/S0950268810000671
- Siri Helene Hauge, Susanne Gjeruldsen Dudman, Katrine Borgen, Olav Hungnes, Arne Broch Brantsæter, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Preben Aavitsland, (2009). Sykdom forårsaket av nytt A(H1N1)-influensavirus. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening s. 1736-1739. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.09.0748
- AP Magiorakos, C Suetens, L Boyd, C Costa, R Cunney, V Drouvot, C Farrugia, MM Fernandez-Maillo, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, E Leens, S Michael, ML Moro, C Reinhardt, R Serban, R Vatcheva-Dobrevska, K Wilson, E Heisbourg, HC Maltezou, R Strauss, K Borocz, M Dolinsek, U Dumpis, S Erne, O Gudlaugsson, P Heczko, D Hedlova, J Holt, L Joe, O Lyytikainen, I Riesenfeld-Orn, M Stefkovikova, R Valinteliene, A Voss, DL Monnet, (2009). National hand hygiene campaigns in Europe, 2000-2009. Eurosurveillance s. 9-15.
- M Hofshagen, B Gjerset, C Er, A Tarpai, E Brun, B Dannevig, T Bruheim, IG Fostad, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Olav Hungnes, B Lium, (2009). Pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v: human to pig transmission in Norway?. Eurosurveillance s. 15-17.
- Petter Elstrøm, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Preben Aavitsland, (2008). Bør barn adoptert fra utlandet undersøkes for meticillinresistente stafylokokker?. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening s. 291-293.
- Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Arne Broch Brantsæter, Preben Aavitsland, (2008). Nationwide study of invasive Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in Norway: Importance of underlying disease. Journal of Infection s. 139-146. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2008.05.010
- Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Bjørn Hofmann, Preben Aavitsland, (2008). Questions on causality and responsibility arising from an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in Norway. Emerging Themes in Epidemiology doi: 10.1186/1742-7622-5-22
- Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Hanne-Merete Eriksen, Gjermund Bø, Kristian Hagestad, Trond Jacobsen, Eva Louise Engeset, Jørgen Fr Lassen, Preben Aavitsland, (2007). Pseudomonas aeruginosa contamination of mouth swabs during production causing a major outbreak. Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials doi: 10.1186/1476-0711-6-3
- Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Trond Jacobsen, Hanne-Merete Eriksen, Geir Bukholm, Kjetil K Melby, Kjetil K. Melby, Karin Maria Nygård, Preben Aavitsland, (2007). An outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection caused by contaminated mouth swabs. Clinical Infectious Diseases s. 794-801. doi: 10.1086/511644
- Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, (2006). Seksuelt overførbare infeksjoner hos menn som har sex med menn. s. 134-147.
- Marianne A Riise Bergsaker, Olav Hungnes, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, (2006). Influensavaksinering - hvorfor, for hvem og med hvilken vaksine?. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening s. 2814-2817.
- Georg Kapperud, Liv Marit Rørvik, Viggo Hasseltvedt, Ernst Arne Høiby, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Kristian Staveland, Gro Johnsen, J Leitao, Hallgeir Herikstad, Y Andersson, Gunnar Langeland, Bjørn Gondrosen, Jørgen Lassen, (1995). Outbreak of Shigella sonnei Infection Traced to Imported Iceberg Lettuce. Journal of Clinical Microbiology s. 609-614.
- Kirsten Midttun Gravningen, Liz Ertzeid Ødeskaug, Mari Nythun Utheim, Julie Andrine Korpås, Silje Bakken Jørgensen, Petter Elstrøm, Birgitte Lyrån, Rune Jemtland, Nicola Isabelle Kols, Siv Anita Kvaal, anne mette Asfeldt, Pia Littauer, Kristin Kilhus, Dag Harald Skutlaberg, Torunn Annie Pedersen, Nils Olav Hermansen, Oliver Kacelnik, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, (2022). Nasjonalt utbrudd av Pseudomonas aeruginosa i sykehus forårsaket av ferdigfuktede ikke-sterile vaskekluter, Norge, 2021-2022
- Mohamed Gawad, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, (2021). Factors impacting on the preparedness ability of a country. A narrative report to the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD)
- Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Didrik Frimann Vestrheim, Signe Agnes Flottorp, Eva Marie-Louise Denison, Andrew David Oxman,
- Siri Helene Hauge, Hinta Meijerink, Benedikte Louise Alveberg, Are Stuwitz Berg, Anne Bergh, Karoline Bragstad, Birgitte Freiesleben De Blasio, Hanne-Merete Eriksen-Volle, Siri Laura Feruglio, Frode Forland, Gry Marysol Grøneng, Jørn Andreas Holme, Olav Hungnes, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Julie Denise Whittle Johansen, Knut Jønsrud, Emily Ann Macdonald, Karin Maria Nygård, Hanne Magdalene Nøkleby, Trine Hessevik Paulsen, Christina Lill Rolfheim-Bye, Kjersti Margrethe Rydland, Ragnhild Tønnessen, Kjetil Berg Veire, Line Vold, Richard Aubrey White, Torbjørn Wisløff, Britt Wolden, (2020). Urbanization and preparedness for outbreaks with high-impact respiratory pathogens
- Didrik Frimann Vestrheim, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Signe Agnes Flottorp, Eva Marie-Louise Denison, Andrew David Oxman, (2020). Should individuals in the community without respiratory symptoms wear facemasks to reduce the spread of Covid-19? – Update 1
- Emily MacDonald, Bernardo Rafael Guzmán Herrador, Susanne Hyllestad, Vidar Lund, Karin Maria Nygård, Line Vold, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Mohamed Lafi, Walaa Ammar, (2014). A systematic literature review and recommendations on water usage in the Gaza strip
- Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, (2009). Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in Norway : an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection caused by contaminated Dent-O-Sept mouth swabs and invasive Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in Norway 1992-2002
- Ole John Wegner Førland, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Thale Madssen, Hege Line Magnussen Løwer, (2006). Evaluering Ren omsorg : nasjonal håndhygienekampanje gjennomført av Nasjonalt folkehelseinstitutt i samarbeid med landets sykehus og sykehjem utarbeidet
- Hanne M Eriksen, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, (2004). Årsrapport 2003 om sykehusinfeksjoner i kommunale helseinstitusjoner og sykehus
- Andrew David Oxman, Atle Fretheim, Simon Lewin, Signe Agnes Flottorp, Claire Glenton, Arnfinn Helleve, Didrik Frimann Vestrheim, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, Sarah Ellen Rosenbaum, (2022). Health communication in and out of public health emergencies: to persuade or to inform?. Health Research Policy and Systems doi: 10.1186/s12961-022-00828-z
- Ketil Slagstad, Anne Helene Kveim Lie, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, (2021). Smittevern for sexarbeidere. Klassekampen
- Emily Ann Macdonald, Bernardo Rafael Guzmán Herrador, Susanne Hyllestad, Vidar Lund, Karin Maria Nygård, Line Vold, Mohamed Lafi, Walaa Ammar, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, (2016). Water usage in the Gaza Strip: Recommendations from a literature review and consultations with experts [Utilisation de l'eau dans la Bande de Gaza: Recommandations reposant sur une analyse documentaire et des consultations d'experts]. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal s. 910-918.
- Oliver Kacelnik, Ole John Wegner Førland, Bjørn Gunnar Iversen, (2011). Evaluation of the national campaign to improve hand hygiene in nursing homes in Norway. Journal of Hospital Infection s. 359-360. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2010.09.030