Community-acquired respiratory viral infections (CARV) significantly impact patients with hematological malignancies (HM), leading to high morbidity and mortality. However, large-scale, real-world data on CARV in these patients is limited. This study analyzed data from the EPICOVIDEHA-EPIFLUEHA registry, focusing on patients with HM diagnosed with CARV during the 2023-2024 autumn-winter season. The study assessed epidemiology, clinical characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes. The study examined 1312 patients with HM diagnosed with CARV during the 2023-2024 autumn-winter season. Of these, 59.5% required hospitalization, with 13.5% needing ICU admission. The overall mortality rate was 10.6%, varying by virus: parainfluenza (21.3%), influenza (8.8%), metapneumovirus (7.1%), RSV (5.9%), or SARS-CoV-2 (5.0%). Poor outcomes were significantly associated with smoking history, severe lymphopenia, secondary bacterial infections, and ICU admission. This study highlights the severe risk CARV poses to patients with HM, especially those undergoing active treatment. The high rates of hospitalization and mortality stress the need for better prevention, early diagnosis, and targeted therapies. Given the severe outcomes with certain viruses like parainfluenza, tailored strategies are crucial to improving patient outcomes in future CARV seasons.

• MeSH
• Influenza, Human epidemiology   mortality   complications   MeSH
• COVID-19 * epidemiology   mortality   complications   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Hematologic Neoplasms * mortality   epidemiology   MeSH
• Hospitalization MeSH
• Respiratory Tract Infections * epidemiology   virology   MeSH
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections epidemiology   mortality   complications   MeSH
• Community-Acquired Infections epidemiology   mortality   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Metapneumovirus isolation & purification   MeSH
• Registries MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Seasons * MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

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 * epidemiology   MeSH
• Communicable Diseases MeSH
• Laboratories * economics   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Microbiology MeSH
• Pandemics MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• Public Health MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

The aim of this prospective study was to assess the duration of culture-viable SARS-CoV-2 and to monitor the emergence of mutations in a cohort of 23 kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) from June 2022 to June 2023. Combined nares/oropharyngeal swabs were collected weekly starting as soon as possible after symptom onset. The time from symptom onset to a negative culture was 11 days (interquartile range, 8-14), while the time to negative reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction was 18 days (interquartile range, 15-30). Beyond the first swab, 21.7% had a positive culture, and 8.7% replicated viable virus for longer than 30 days. T cell depletion (rate ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.9-3.3; P < .001) and time from transplantation (rate ratio, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.90-0.97; P = .006) were associated with the time of viable virus shedding. A cycle threshold value of 24.2 demonstrated a 91.3% negative predictive value of viability (95% credible interval [95% CrI], 76-100). The odds of viability decreased by 69% per week of infection (odds ratio, 0.31; 95% CrI, 0.12-0.76). Overall, ribonucleic acid sequencing did not show accelerated molecular evolution though mutation rate could be increased in molnupiravir-treated KTRs. In conclusion, viable SARS-CoV-2 is eliminated rapidly, the risk of virus evolution is low, and prolonged self-isolation is generally unnecessary for most KTRs.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * virology   epidemiology   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Evolution, Molecular * MeSH
• Mutation MeSH
• Transplant Recipients * MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 * genetics   isolation & purification   physiology   MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Kidney Transplantation * MeSH
• Virus Shedding * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Observational Study 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 * epidemiology   psychology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Pandemics MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 * MeSH
• Social Responsibility MeSH
• Community Participation MeSH
• Leadership MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review 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 * epidemiology   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Pandemics * MeSH
• Delivery of Health Care organization & administration   MeSH
• Surveys and Questionnaires MeSH
• Interviews as Topic MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Telemedicine * organization & administration   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Diabetes has been shown in last decades to be associated with a significantly higher mortality among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary PCI (PPCI). Therefore, the aim of current study was to evaluate the impact of diabetes on times delays, reperfusion and mortality in a contemporary STEMI population undergoing PPCI, including treatment during the COVID pandemic. METHODS AND RESULTS: The ISACS-STEMI COVID-19 is a large-scale retrospective multicenter registry involving PPCI centers from Europe, Latin America, South-East Asia and North-Africa, including patients treated from 1st of March until June 30, 2019 and 2020. Primary study endpoint of this analysis was in-hospital mortality. Secondary endpoints were postprocedural TIMI 0-2 flow and 30-day mortality. Our population is represented by 16083 STEMI patients. A total of 3812 (23,7 %) patients suffered from diabetes. They were older, more often males as compared to non-diabetes. Diabetic patients were less often active smokers and had less often a positive family history of CAD, but they were more often affected by hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, with higher prevalence of previous STEMI and previous CABG. Diabetic patients had longer ischemia time, had more often anterior MI, cardiogenic shock, rescue PCI and multivessel disease. They had less often out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and in-stent thrombosis, received more often a mechanical support, received less often a coronary stent and DES. Diabetes was associated with a significantly impaired postprocedural TIMI flow (TIMI 0-2: 9.8 % vs 7.2 %, adjusted OR [95 % CI] = 1.17 [1.02-1.38], p = 0.024) and higher mortality (in-hospital: 9.1 % vs 4.8 %, Adjusted OR [95 % CI] = 1.70 [1.43-2.02], p < 0.001; 30-day mortality: 10.8 % vs 6 %, Adjusted HR [95 % CI] = 1.46 [1.26-1.68], p < 0.001) as compared to non-diabetes, particularly during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that in a contemporary STEMI population undergoing PPCI, diabetes is significantly associated with impaired epicardial reperfusion that translates into higher in-hospital and 30-day mortality, particularly during the pandemic.

• MeSH
• Time-to-Treatment MeSH
• Time Factors MeSH
• COVID-19 * mortality   epidemiology   MeSH
• Diabetes Mellitus * mortality   diagnosis   epidemiology   MeSH
• Risk Assessment MeSH
• ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction * mortality   therapy   diagnosis   MeSH
• Percutaneous Coronary Intervention * mortality   adverse effects   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Hospital Mortality MeSH
• Registries MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Multicenter Study MeSH

Despite the lower virulence of current SARS-CoV-2 variants and high rates of vaccinated and previously infected subjects, COVID-19 remains a persistent threat in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). This study evaluated the parameters of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody production in 120 KTRs. The production of neutralizing antibodies in KTRs, following booster vaccination with the mRNA vaccine BNT162b2, was significantly decreased and their decline was faster than in healthy subjects. Factors predisposing to the downregulation of anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies included age, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, and a full dose of mycophenolate mofetil. Neutralizing antibodies correlated with those targeting the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD), SARS-CoV-2 Spike trimmer, total SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein, as well as with antibodies to the deadly SARS-CoV-1 virus. No cross-reactivity was found with antibodies against seasonal coronaviruses. KTRs exhibited lower postvaccination production of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2; however, the specificity of their humoral response did not differ compared to healthy subjects.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * immunology   prevention & control   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus immunology   MeSH
• Immunity, Humoral MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Antibodies, Neutralizing * blood   immunology   MeSH
• Transplant Recipients * MeSH
• Antibodies, Viral * blood   immunology   MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 * immunology   MeSH
• Immunization, Secondary MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Kidney Transplantation * adverse effects   MeSH
• BNT162 Vaccine immunology   administration & dosage   MeSH
• COVID-19 Vaccines immunology   administration & dosage   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor, with several detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system. Contrasting results have been reported so far on its prognostic role in patients admitted for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Therefore, we investigated the impact of hypertension on short-term mortality in a large multicenter contemporary registry of STEMI patients, including patients treated during COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The ISACS-STEMI COVID-19 was a retrospective registry that included STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between March and June of 2019 and 2020 in 109 high-volume primary PCI centers from 4 continents. We collected data on baseline, clinical and procedural characteristics, in-hospital outcome and 30-day mortality. For this analysis patients were grouped according to history of hypertension at admission. RESULTS: A total of 16083 patients were assessed, including 8813 (54.8%) with history of hypertension. These patients were more often elderly, with a worse cardiovascular risk profile, but were less frequently active smoker. Some procedural differences were observed between the two groups, including lower rate of thrombectomy and use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors or cangrelor but more extensive coronary disease in patients with hypertension. Between patients with and without hypertension, there was no significant difference in SARS-CoV-2 positivity. Hypertensive patients had a significantly higher in-hospital and 30-day mortality, similarly observed in both pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 era, and confirmed after adjustment for main baseline differences and propensity score (in-hospital mortality: adjusted odds ratio (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] =1.673 [1.389-2.014], P < 0.001; 30-day mortality: adjusted hazard ratio (HR) [95% CI] = 1.418 [1.230-1.636], P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This is one of the largest and contemporary study assessing the impact of hypertension in STEMI patients undergoing primary angioplasty, including also the COVID-19 pandemic period. Hypertension was independently associated with significantly higher rates of in-hospital and 30-day mortality.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * complications   mortality   MeSH
• Hypertension * complications   mortality   MeSH
• ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction * mortality   complications   therapy   MeSH
• Percutaneous Coronary Intervention * MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Hospital Mortality MeSH
• Registries * MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Multicenter Study MeSH

BACKGROUND: Anticoagulation during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) might still lead to severe bleeding complications. Heparin is the most frequently used anticoagulant, but novel drugs could be promising. Argatroban is a new alternative to heparin. To date, no robust studies have confirmed the clear superiority of argatroban (AG) over heparin, although it has some advantages and may be safer. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: An observational study was conducted in all adult veno-venous ECMO patients with COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome admitted to the University Hospital Ostrava (n = 63). They were anticoagulated with heparin in the first period and with AG in the second period, targeting the same activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT; 45-60 s). Bleeding complications requiring transfusion and life-threatening bleeding events were evaluated. The primary objective was to compare heparin and AG in terms of bleeding, transfusion requirements and mortality-related bleeding. RESULTS: The total time on ECMO per patient was 16 days with an in-hospital mortality of 55.6%. The red blood cell consumption in the AG group (median 2.7 transfusions/week) was significantly lower than in the heparin group (median 4.2 transfusions/week, p = 0.011). Life-threatening bleeding complications were higher in the heparin group compared to the AG group (35.7% vs. 10.2%, p = 0.035), and mortality-related bleeding complications were also higher in the heparin group (21.4% vs. 2.0%, p = 0.032). DISCUSSION: Argatroban is an interesting alternative to heparin with less bleeding, less need for red blood cell transfusions and improved safety of ECMO with less mortality-related bleeding.

• MeSH
• Anticoagulants * adverse effects   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Arginine * analogs & derivatives   MeSH
• COVID-19 complications   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Heparin * adverse effects   MeSH
• Hemorrhage * chemically induced   therapy   MeSH
• Pipecolic Acids * therapeutic use   administration & dosage   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation * MeSH
• Hospital Mortality MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Sulfonamides * MeSH
• Respiratory Distress Syndrome therapy   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Observational Study MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH

Cíl: Cílem naší práce bylo popsat epidemiologickou situaci výskytu rotavirových gastroenteritid (RG) a vliv očkování na hospitalizaci pro RG v České republice (ČR) v letech 2018–2023. Metody: Byla provedena deskriptivní analýza anonymizovaných případů RG hlášených pod kódem A08.0 v systému pro hlášení infekčních onemocnění (ISIN) v České republice v letech 2018–2023. K analýze binárních proměnných byl použit chí-kvadrát test. Vliv očkování na hospitalizaci byl hodnocen pomocí logistické regrese s odds ratio (OR) a 95 % intervalu spolehlivosti. Použity byly programy Excel, STATA a Datawrapper GmbH. Incidence onemocnění byla přepočítána na 100 000 obyvatel. Výsledky: Ve sledovaném období bylo v ČR hlášeno celkem 26 303 případů RG (v rozmezí 1 811–7 483 ročně), což odpovídá průměrné roční incidenci 41,0 (rozmezí 16,9–69,6) na 100 000 obyvatel. Padesát jedna procent případů se vyskytlo u žen. Průměrná roční specifická incidence podle pohlaví byla srovnatelná. Případy se vyskytly u osob 0–101letých (medián 3 roky, mezikvartilové rozpětí [IQR] 1–8 let). Maximální počty případů byly zaznamenány v měsících březen až červen, přičemž v pandemických letech 2020 a 2021 byly celkové počty případů nižší, a tedy i sezonnost byla vyjádřena méně. Průměrná roční specifická incidence byla nejvyšší v krajích Vysočina, Jihočeském a Olomouckém. Hospitalizováno bylo 18 693 (71,1 %) případů RG, nejvíce případů ve věkové skupině 1–4 roky (34,7 %) a 5–9 let (11,9 %). Údaje o očkování byly dostupné pro 21 142 osob s RG, z nich 304 (1,4 %) osob bylo vykázáno jako očkováno. Riziko hospitalizace pro RG bylo u očkovaných osob statisticky významně nižší (p < 0,001) než u neočkovaných. Nahlášeno bylo celkem 27 epidemií RG, v největší bylo zaznamenáno 152 případů. Jako import bylo hlášeno 226 případů onemocnění. Závěr: Po zahájení očkování proti RG v ČR bylo očekáváno snížení počtu onemocnění, hospitalizací a úmrtí pro tato onemocnění. Nicméně významný dopad očkování na zátěž RG dosud v ČR pozorován není a domníváme se, že hlavním důvodem je nadále nízká proočkovanost proti RG v ČR. Doporučujeme proto zařadit toto dobrovolné očkování mezi očkování hrazená zdravotními pojišťovnami a zároveň apelujeme na časnou komunikaci vhodnosti očkování mezi praktickým lékařem pro děti a dorost a rodiči dětí.

Aim: To describe the epidemiological situation of rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) and the impact of vaccination on hospitalization for RVGE in the Czech Republic in 2018–2023. Methods: A descriptive analysis was performed of anonymized RVGE cases reported under code A08.0 to the Infectious Diseases Reporting System (ISIN) in the Czech Republic in 2018–2023. The Chi-square test was used to analyse binary variables. The effect of vaccination on hospitalization was assessed using logistic regression with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval. Excel, STATA, and Datawrapper GmbH programs were used. The incidence of the disease was calculated per 100,000 population. Results: In the monitored period, a total of 26,303 RVGE cases were reported in the Czech Republic (range 1,811–7,483 per year), which corresponds to an average annual incidence of 41.0 (range 16.9–69.6) per 100,000 population. Fifty-one percent of cases occurred in women. The average annual sex-specific incidence rates were comparable. Patients were aged 0–101 years (median 3 years, interquartile range [IQR] 1–8 years). The maximum numbers of cases were recorded in the months of March to June. In the pandemic years 2020 and 2021, the overall numbers of cases were lower, and therefore the seasonality was less expressed. The average annual specific incidence was highest in the Vysočina, South Bohemian and Olomouc Regions. A total of 18,693 (71.1%) cases of RVGE were hospitalized, most of them in the age groups 1–4 years (34.7%) and 5–9 years (11.9%). Vaccination data were available for 21,142 individuals with RVGE, of whom 304 (1.4%) were reported as vaccinated. The risk of hospitalization for RVGE was statistically significantly lower (p < 0.001) in vaccinated than in unvaccinated individuals. A total of 27 RVGE outbreaks were reported, with the largest one involving 152 cases. Two hundred and twenty-six cases were classified as imported. Conclusions: After the introduction of RVGE vaccination in the Czech Republic, a reduction in RVGE cases, hospitalizations, and deaths was expected. However, a significant impact of vaccination on the RVGE burden has not yet been observed in the country. The main reason continues to be low RVGE vaccine coverage. We therefore recommend including this voluntary vaccination in the schedule covered by health insurance and also call for early communication of the appropriateness of such vaccination between the paediatric/adolescent medicine practitioners and children’s parents.