Microbiology reference laboratories perform a crucial role within public health systems. This role was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this Viewpoint, we emphasise the importance of microbiology reference laboratories and highlight the types of digital data and expertise they provide, which benefit national and international public health. We also highlight the value of surveillance initiatives among collaborative international partners, who work together to share, analyse, and interpret data, and then disseminate their findings in a timely manner. Microbiology reference laboratories have substantial impact at regional, national, and international levels, and sustained support for these laboratories is essential for public health in both pandemic and non-pandemic times.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * epidemiologie   MeSH
• infekční nemoci MeSH
• laboratoře * ekonomika   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikrobiologie MeSH
• pandemie MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• veřejné zdravotnictví MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

This scoping review summarizes evidence regarding the impact of civic and community engagement of young people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing that the global pandemic not only brought challenges but also new opportunities to take a stance and to actively engage in communities and society, this review assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people's civic engagement across different cultural contexts and identifies key factors and processes that enable young people to engage with their community or society at large. We summarize evidence from 27 original research papers, one thought piece, and four reports conducted by global organizations such as the United Nations and OECD. Relevant research was conducted in the United States, Europe, China, Southeast Asia, South Africa, and New Zealand, addressing the development of leadership skills, civic responsibility, critical consciousness, civic and community engagement, as well as social integration. Key factors that facilitated civic engagement include national investments in online learning facilities, support for basic needs (such as education, health, and employment), and promotion and encouragement of local initiatives. The studies differed in their focus depending on the socio-cultural context encountered and future research needs to consider cultural variations and different demands on young people to inform effective practices for supporting young people's active engagement in society.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * epidemiologie   psychologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• pandemie MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 * MeSH
• sociální odpovědnost MeSH
• účast komunity MeSH
• vůdcovství MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

The COVID-19 Pandemic contributed to accelerating the process of using information and communication technologies and digital technologies in healthcare management and delivery within healthcare systems. At that time, the Czech healthcare system faced the same problems as other European systems and struggled with a temporary limitation of direct provision of healthcare services. It was solved by switching to telemedicine. The Czech healthcare system used telemedicine to a minimal extent until then. Despite adopting the law on healthcare digitisation, it is still one of the countries with a lower level of digitisation of healthcare processes. The article presents the results of an exploratory expert investigation focused on the implementation and development of telemedicine in the Czech Republic. The conducted research aimed to identify problems related to the implementation of telemedicine in practice, place them in the broader framework of the healthcare system and structure them, propose possible solutions, and identify the future challenges of telemedicine in the Czech Republic. We based our study on the results of a three-phase QUAL-QUAN-QUAL research. Data collection in the first phase took the form of individual semi-structured interviews with patients (25) with practical experience in the field of telemedicine, followed by the second quantitative phase of the questionnaire survey with patients (650). The third qualitative phase included semi-structured interviews with experts (17) with practical experience in telemedicine. The introduction and expansion of telemedicine require several fundamental changes. These include adjustments to the legislative environment and changes to the technological infrastructure, organisation of care and work. Several barriers have been identified at the healthcare system level, healthcare providers, healthcare professionals and patients.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * epidemiologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pandemie * MeSH
• poskytování zdravotní péče organizace a řízení   MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• rozhovory jako téma MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• telemedicína * organizace a řízení   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

Cíl: Cílem studie byla analýza vlivu pandemie covidu-19 na epidemiologickou situaci invazivního meningokokového onemocnění (IMO) a na molekulární charakteristiky izolátů Neisseria meningitidis způsobujících IMO v České republice. Materiál a metody: Studie vycházela z dat surveillance IMO za období 2018–2024 (k 27. 5. 2024) a analyzovány celogenomovou sekvenací (WGS) byly všechny dostupné izoláty N. meningitidis z IMO z těchto let. Pro analýzu vlivu pandemie covidu-19 bylo sledované období rozděleno na tři srovnávané etapy: pre-covidové období (2018–2019), období pandemie covidu-19 (2020–2022) a post-covidové období (2023–2024). Výsledky: V důsledku zavedení epidemiologických opatření proti pandemii covidu-19 došlo v České republice, podobně jako v ostatních zemích, k poklesu počtu infekčních onemocnění přenášených vzdušnou cestou, včetně IMO. Po uvolnění těchto epidemiologických opatření však nedošlo v České republice k opětnému vzestupu počtu IMO, na rozdíl od řady jiných zemí. Charakterizace izolátů z IMO metodou WGS prokázala, že v průběhu covidového a post-covidového období došlo k postupné změně populace meningokoků, které v České republice působí IMO. U izolátů N. meningitidis séroskupin C, W a Y lze sledovat postupný a výrazný pokles celkové heterogenity – z deseti různých klonálních komplexů zachycených v pre-covidovém období na pouhé tři v post-covidových letech (cc11, cc23 a cc103). Zároveň byla zjištěna významná redukce izolátů N. meningitidis C; cc11. U izolátů N. meningitidis B lze naopak pozorovat nárůst celkové heterogenity během období pandemie covidu-19 a její opětovnou redukci na celkově nejnižší hodnoty v post-covidovém období. Závěr: V přetrvávajícím poklesu počtu IMO v České republice má roli i zavedení úhrady očkování MenB vakcínou a konjugovanou vakcínou A, C, W, Y pro malé děti (v květnu 2020) a pro adolescenty (v lednu 2022). K udržení nízkých počtů IMO v České republice je žádoucí pokračovat v očkování MenB vakcínou a konjugovanou vakcínou A, C, W, Y dle doporučení České vakcinologické společnosti ČLS JEP.

Objective: To analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiological situation of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) and molecular characteristics of Neisseria meningitidis isolates causing IMD in the Czech Republic. Material and Methods: The study was based on IMD surveillance data for 2018–2024 (as of 27 May 2024), and all available N. meningitidis isolates from IMD of these years were subjected to whole genome sequencing (WGS). To analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the study period was divided into three parts: the pre-COVID period (2018–2019), the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–2022), and the post-COVID period (2023–2024). Results: As a result of the implementation of the COVID-19 control measures, similar to other countries, there has been a decline in the incidence of air-borne infections including IMD in the Czech Republic. However, unlike many other countries, there has not been a resurgence of IMD in the Czech Republic following the release of these epidemiological measures. WGS characterisation of IMD isolates showed a gradual change in the population of meningococci causing IMD in the Czech Republic during the COVID-19 and post-COVID periods. For N. meningitidis isolates of serogroups C, W, and Y, a gradual and significant decline in overall heterogeneity can be observed – from ten different clonal complexes detected in the pre-COVID period to only three in the post-COVID years (cc11, cc23, and cc103). At the same time, a significant reduction was observed in N. meningitidis C isolates; cc11. In contrast, an increase in overall heterogeneity can be observed for N. meningitidis B isolates during the COVID-19 pandemic period, followed by its decline again to overall lowest values in the post-COVID period. Conclusion: The fact that MenB vaccine and conjugate vaccine A, C, W, Y started to be covered by health insurance for young children (in May 2020) and adolescents (in January 2022) also appears to play a role in the persistent decline of IMD in the Czech Republic. In order to maintain the low incidence of IMD in the Czech Republic, it is desirable to continue vaccination with MenB vaccine and conjugated vaccine A, C, W, Y in accordance with the recommendations of the Czech Society of Vaccinology of the Czech Medical Association of Jan Evangelista Purkyně.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 epidemiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• meningokokové infekce epidemiologie   MeSH
• Neisseria meningitidis * genetika   MeSH
• pandemie MeSH
• sekvenční analýza * MeSH
• vakcinace statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

Publikace se zaměřuje na dezinformace, propagandu, politiku a farmaceutické společnosti a jejich vztah k nedávným pandemiím. Určeno široké veřejnosti.; Strach ohrožuje zdraví. Znalosti posilují naši obranu - proti virům, nebezpečné propagandě a lžím. Farmaceutické společnosti a virologové se již pokusili oklamat miliony lidí falešnými poplašnými zprávami o pandemii během epidemií prasečí a ptačí chřipky. Lékař, politik a bývalý poslanec Spolkového sněmu Wolfgang Wodarg se tehdy zasloužil o zmaření těchto plánů a dnes opět zaujímá jednoznačný postoj: „V současné době zažíváme obrovský zločin proti lidskosti. Je zřejmé, že korona-spekulanty nevede starost o životní prostředí a naše zdraví, ani emancipace či ochrana před globálním oteplováním. Jejich hnací silou je, stejně jako již dlouho, jejich chorobná chamtivost po bohatství, monopolech a moci.“ Wolfgang Wodarg odhaluje pandemii jako puč shora, řízený očkovací mafií a techno-elitou. Jeho kniha je nepostradatelným průvodcem - k opravdové solidaritě, skutečné demokracii a zdravotnickému systému, který slouží lidem, a ne zájmům nemocného kapitálu.

• MeSH
• dějiny 21. století MeSH
• dezinformace MeSH
• farmaceutický průmysl MeSH
• komunikační média MeSH
• pandemie MeSH
• politika MeSH
• strach MeSH
• vakcinace MeSH
• Check Tag
• dějiny 21. století MeSH
• Publikační typ
• monografie MeSH
• populární práce MeSH

• Konspekt
• Sociální procesy
• NLK Obory
• sociologie

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) during the school day is crucial for the health and well-being of adolescents. This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth PA patterns to better understand these changes and to provide guidelines for school programming. METHODS: Differences in PA within specific segments of the school day were examined before and after the pandemic using the Youth Activity Profile questionnaire. Participants included 956 boys and 1,317 girls from 21 high schools. The study involved 12 Czech and 9 Polish high schools before the pandemic and 9 Czech and 8 Polish high schools after the pandemic. RESULTS: Both Czech and Polish boys and girls exhibited significantly less transportation PA to and from school and reduced PA during the school day after the pandemic compared to before. Additionally, Czech and Polish boys were significantly less physically active during school breaks, and Czech boys and girls had notably less PA during physical education lessons. The pandemic disrupted the habit of regular PA on school days, particularly evident in the decline of PA to and from school. CONCLUSION: The study confirms a significant difference in PA of Czech and Polish adolescents in various segments of the school day after students return to school following pandemic restrictions. Promoting achievement of the recommendations in the segments of the school day and in comprehensive school PA programs should be an important part of school health and education policy and public health promotion for adolescents.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * epidemiologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• cvičení * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• pandemie MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• školy * MeSH
• studenti statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Polsko MeSH

BACKGROUND: Detrimental effects of misinformation were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presently, amid Russia's military aggression in Ukraine, another wave of misinformation is spreading on the web and impacting our daily lives, with many citizens and politicians embracing Russian propaganda narratives. Despite the lack of an objective connection between these 2 societal issues, anecdotal observations suggest that supporters of misinformation regarding COVID-19 (BM-C) have also adopted misinformation about the war in Ukraine (BM-U) while sharing similar media use patterns and political attitudes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a link between respondents' endorsement of the 2 sets of misinformation narratives, and whether some of the selected factors (media use, political trust, vaccine hesitancy, and belief rigidity) are associated with both BM-C and BM-U. METHODS: We conducted a survey on a nationally representative sample of 1623 individuals in the Czech Republic. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to identify the relationship between BM-C and BM-U. In addition, multiple linear regression was used to determine associations between the examined factors and both sets of misinformation. RESULTS: We discovered that BM-C and BM-U were moderately correlated (Spearman ρ=0.57; P<.001). Furthermore, increased trust in Russia and decreased trust in the local government, public media, and Western allies of the Czech Republic predicted both BM-C and BM-U. Media use indicating frustration with and avoidance of public or mainstream media, consumption of alternative information sources, and participation in web-based discussions indicative of epistemic bubbles predicted beliefs in misinformation narratives. COVID-19 vaccine refusal predicted only BM-C but not BM-U. However, vaccine refusers were overrepresented in the BM-U supporters (64/161, 39.8%) and undecided (128/505, 25.3%) individuals. Both beliefs were associated with belief rigidity. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides empirical evidence that supporters of COVID-19 misinformation were susceptible to ideological misinformation aligning with Russian propaganda. Supporters of both sets of misinformation narratives were primarily linked by their shared trust or distrust in the same geopolitical actors and their distrust in the local government.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * prevence a kontrola   epidemiologie   psychologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• důvěra MeSH
• komunikace * MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• odkládání očkování psychologie   MeSH
• pandemie MeSH
• politika MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• vakcíny proti COVID-19 aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Rusko MeSH
• Ukrajina MeSH

• MeSH
• COVID-19 MeSH
• pandemie prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• Světová zdravotnická organizace MeSH
• vakcinace MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Slovenská republika MeSH

ABSTRACTBackground: European health care workers recently experienced serious challenges to their mental health. Following the extremely stressful experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine caused a humanitarian influx of refugees in need of social and healthcare. We aimed to explore: (1) how working with refugees has affected the mental well-being of health care workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) the nature of health care workers' emotional strain related to the refugee situation and the war in Ukraine.Methods: We used a combination of quantitative regression analyses and qualitative content analysis to assess data collected by an online questionnaire in 2022. The study included 1121 health care workers from the Czech arm of the international HEROES Study.Results: Quantitative findings did not indicate that working with Ukrainian refugees was reliably associated with a greater occurrence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, distress, or burnout. Qualitative analysis revealed five categories of emotional strain: impacts on working conditions, emotional reactions to refugees and the war, comparisons with the COVID-19 pandemic, and coping strategies.Conclusions: This study highlights the resilience of health care workers but also points to the need for ongoing support to address the complex emotional challenges they face during health crises.

• MeSH
• adaptace psychologická MeSH
• COVID-19 * psychologie   MeSH
• deprese psychologie   epidemiologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• duševní zdraví * MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pandemie MeSH
• profesionální vyhoření psychologie   MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• psychický stres psychologie   MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• uprchlíci * psychologie   statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• úzkost psychologie   MeSH
• zdravotnický personál * psychologie   statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Ukrajina MeSH

BACKGROUND: Working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic was perceived differently by men and women working in STEM fields. The aim of this paper is to highlight the unexpected benefits generated by working from home during the pandemic. METHODS: Qualitative methodology was used to analyze data, collected via survey. The survey designed and conducted by WiMPBME targeted both males and females working in medical-related STEM fields (physics and engineering) and was answered by 921 individuals from 76 countries across all continents. This report analysed the responses to one open-ended question of the survey, namely: "What is the one positive that you have learnt/experienced as a result of working from home during this pandemic?". RESULTS: 594 responded to the question of interest. Access to home office was reported by 72.2% of survey participants. Males were more likely than females to report no positives of working from home (62.9%). Females were more likely to cite quality time, physical and mental health as positive factors than males, and to mention children in their responses. The most commonly coded thematic unit for males was remote working, with many males reporting the feasibility of working from home. Increased work productivity, better time management and work organisation were other common themes highlighted by responders irrespective of gender. CONCLUSION: The findings of the survey show the diversity of perceptions about remote working in STEM fields, while highlighting the importance of considering family dynamics, individual circumstances as well as gender when evaluating varied experiences of STEM professionals.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * epidemiologie   MeSH
• inženýrství MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pandemie MeSH
• práce na dálku MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• sexuální faktory MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH