Aside from the general population, the COVID-19 pandemic has also affected a group of patients in palliative oncology care. In this study, long-term immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 after vaccination were monitored in a cohort of patients in palliative oncology care. This non-randomized, prospective, and open-label pilot study recruited patients from the Palliative Oncology Program and included 147 patients, of which 80 were females (54.4%) and 67 males (45.6%). The overall evaluation included current health status, SARS-CoV-2 anti-S IgG titer, and neutralizing antibodies using the SARS-CoV-2 virus neutralization test (VNT). Anti-S IgG antibody analysis revealed high (H) antibody levels in 35.7% (n = 10) and very high (VH) levels in 39.3% (n = 11) of patients after the second vaccination dose. Similarly, after the third dose, H was found in 29.6% (n = 32) and VH in 55.5% (n = 60) of patients. High and very high anti-S IgG antibody levels were consistent with high VNT titers (>2560) and H antibody levels in 17.1% (n = 12) or VH in 82.9% (n = 58) of patients. Patients with two or more doses showed H and VH antibody levels at a median of 451 and 342 days after vaccination, respectively. In this clinical trial, patients showed high and very high levels of anti-S IgG antibodies over a longer period of time. These patients did not show reduced immunological responses to the COVID-19 vaccine challenge. We can assume that prevention through vaccination can reduce the risk of complications or death from COVID-19 in patients in early palliative oncology care.

• Klíčová slova
• COVID-19 vaccine, VNT, anti-S IgG, inpatient care, palliative oncological care,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 virus is mainly based on direct detection. Determination of specific antibodies has been used mostly for epidemiological reasons. However, select immunoassays showed good correlation to plaque reduction virus neutralization test (PRNT) in smaller patient cohorts, which suggests their potential as predictors of virus neutralization titer. A total of 3,699 samples from Covid-19 patients were included in the multicentric study performed in the Czech Republic. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels were evaluated by 8 commercial antibody assays. Simultaneously, PRNT evaluations were performed with the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.258 variant. All immunoassays showed an overall high true positive diagnostic value ranging from 79.17 to 98.04%. Several commercial EIA methods showed highly positive correlation between the assay results and PRNT levels, e.g., Liaison CoV-2 TrimericS IgG DiaSorin (Spearman r = 0.8833; Architect SASRS-CoV-2 IgG Abbott (r = 0.7298); NovaLisa SARS-CoV-2 IgG NovaTec (r = 0.7103) and Anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA IgG Euroimmun (r = 0.7094). While this correlation was less positive for other assays, those, conversely, presented higher true positive values. For most immunoassays, the positive percent agreement of the results was ≥ 95% in sera exhibiting PRNT levels of 1:80 and higher. The assays tested have shown variable correlation to PRNT. Those possessing high positive predictive values serve well as qualitative tests, while others can be utilised as quantitative tests highly predictive of neutralization antibody levels.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * diagnóza   MeSH
• imunoglobulin G MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• neutralizační testy metody   MeSH
• neutralizující protilátky MeSH
• protilátky virové MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 * MeSH
• senzitivita a specificita MeSH
• sérologické testy metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• imunoglobulin G MeSH
• neutralizující protilátky MeSH
• protilátky virové MeSH

UNLABELLED: Rapid antigen tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 are commonly used for the diagnosis of Covid-19. Previously published data showed a wide range of sensitivity and specificity of RATs, but these studies were performed on relatively small numbers of samples and using only limited numbers of virus variants. The aim of the study was to evaluate the main parameters of a commonly used RAT for 4 different virus variants in comparison with PCR. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A set of 2874 samples obtained from Covid-19 patients were examined both by PCR and RAT. Two commercial PCR kits (Generi Biotech, Diana Biotechnologies) and one RAT - Abbott Panbio™ COVID 19 Ag Rapid - were compared for their sensitivity and specificity in samples positive for one of the four different SARS-CoV-2 variants - B.1.258 (n = 496), Alpha (n = 645), Delta/Delta+ (n = 687), and Omicron (n = 1046). RESULTS: The sensitivity of Panbio™ COVID19 Ag Rapid test varied from 80.0 % in Omicron to 88.92 % in Alpha variants. The specificities of the RAT for all variants reached above 93 %. Statistically significant differences were found between the results from RAT assay in select virus variants. In addition, significantly higher sensitivity (p < 0.05) was detected in samples with higher viral loads than in those with lower. CONCLUSION: Despite the different sensitivity and specificity of Panbio™ COVID19 Ag Rapid test (Abbott ®) for different SARS-CoV-2 variants, this test sensitivity was proven to be always above the 80 % suggested by WHO, which makes it suitable for common use, regardless of the virus variability.

• Klíčová slova
• PCR ct value, Rapid antigen test, SARS CoV-2 variant, Sensitivity, Specificity,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Colorectal cancer is a very common malignancy with high mortality. Many factors influencing both the development and subsequent treatment, such as age, gender or genetic predisposition, are not modifiable. Others, such as stress, diet, physical activity or smoking, may be prevented by each individual. The gut microbiota is an important factor involved in both the development and treatment outcomes. With the advancing study of the gut microbiota, the relationship between its composition and various diseases is better understood. The proportions of members of the phyla Firmicutes (as beneficial microbiota) and Bacteroidetes (as mostly disease-associated microbiota) seem to be particularly important. Some studies suggest that certain bacteria may contribute to postoperative anastomotic leaks that prolong hospital stays, are a burden to patients, increase costs and may be fatal. Bacteria associated with the complication are, for example, enterococci, pseudomonads or bifidobacteria. Better understanding of the pathognomonic relationship between increased detection of certain bacteria and a complication may lead to individualized therapy aimed to reduce complications during surgical management of colorectal cancer.

• MeSH
• Bacteria MeSH
• kolorektální nádory * chirurgie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikrobiota * MeSH
• střeva MeSH
• střevní mikroflóra * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• anglický abstrakt MeSH
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 is almost exclusively performed by PCR or antigen detection. The detection of specific antibodies has not yet been considered in official diagnostic guidelines as major laboratory evidence for a case definition. The aim the present study is to analyze antibody responses in outpatient and inpatient cohorts of COVID-19 patients in the Czech Republic over a 12-month period, and assess the potential of antibodies as a diagnostic tool. METHODS: A total of 644 patients was enrolled in the prospective study. IgA, IgM and IgG antibody levels, as well as virus neutralization titers, were analyzed over a 12-month period. RESULTS: Our study showed low antibody positivity levels at the admission. However, at 2 weeks after infection, 98.75% and 95.00% of hospitalized patients were IgA and IgG positive, respectively. Even in the outpatient cohort characterized by milder disease courses, the IgG antibody response was still sustained at 9 and 12 months. The data show a high correlation between the IgG levels and virus neutralization titers (VNTs). Samples from later time-points showed positive antibody responses after vaccination in both cohorts characterized by high IgG levels and VNT over 1:640. The samples from unvaccinated persons indicated a relatively high level of reinfection at 6.87%. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the detection of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 shows an increasing sensitivity from week 2 after infection and remains highly positive over the 12-month period. The levels of IgG antibodies correlate significantly with the VNTs. This suggests that the serological data may be a valuable tool in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

• Klíčová slova
• ELISA, SARS-CoV-2, dynamics, reinfection, serology, vaccination, virus neutralization test,
• MeSH
• COVID-19 * diagnóza   epidemiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• protilátky virové MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• tvorba protilátek * MeSH
• vakcinace MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• protilátky virové MeSH

Although Francisella (F.) tularensis is a well-described and understood zoonotic pathogen, its importance in Central Europe is relatively minor and, as such, tularaemia may be missed in the differential diagnosis. The annual incidence of tularaemia in the Czech Republic is relatively stable with up to 100 reported cases per year, except in the epidemic years 1998 and 1999 with 225 and 222 reported cases, respectively. It is, however, higher in comparison with the neighbouring countries. The common route of transmission in Central Europe is handling infected animals. Tularaemia is not commonly recognized as a tick-borne disease. Here we report two rare cases of a tick bite-associated ulceroglandular form of tularaemia in 2.5-year-old and 6.5-year-old children presenting with cervical lymphadenopathy. The unusual and interesting features of those cases are the young age and relatively uncommon route of transmission suggesting possible changes in the epidemiology of tularaemia in the Czech Republic. Therefore, the infection with F. tularensis should be considered in the differential diagnosis after a tick bite even in infants.

• Klíčová slova
• Children, Lymphadenopathy, Tick-borne, Tularaemia,
• MeSH
• Francisella tularensis * MeSH
• kousnutí klíštětem * komplikace   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lymfadenopatie * MeSH
• nemoci přenášené klíšťaty * epidemiologie   MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• tularemie * epidemiologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

We stratified post-COVID patients into four newly established clinical groups based on the presence or absence of at least one subjective respiratory symptom and at least one objective sign of pulmonary involvement. Nearly half of outpatients and one third of hospitalized post-COVID patients had objective signs of pulmonary involvement without accompanying subjective respiratory symptoms three months after diagnosis.

• Klíčová slova
• 6-min Walk Test, Computer tomography, Lung function, Post-COVID, Symptom,
• MeSH
• COVID-19 * komplikace   epidemiologie   patologie   MeSH
• hospitalizace MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• plíce patofyziologie   MeSH
• postakutní syndrom COVID-19 MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH

Fosfomycin represents a relatively old antibiotic, but it is experiencing a comeback in recent years. According to some studies, the increasing therapeutic use of this drug led to a rapid increase in the levels of resistance in bacteria causing urinary tract infection. In the presented study, levels of resistance to fosfomycin in more than 3500 bacterial isolates before and after fosfomycin introduction into therapeutic use in the Czech Republic and the clinical efficacy of treatment in 300 patients using this drug were assessed. The results show that the resistance levels to fosfomycin in Escherichia coli isolates before and after the drug registration were not significantly different (3.4% and 4.4%, respectively). In some other Gram-negative rods, such as otherwise susceptible Enterobacter, resistance to fosfomycin increased significantly from 45.6% to 76.6%. Fosfomycin treatment of urinary tract infections showed an excellent seven-day clinical efficacy (79.7%). However, when used to treat recurrent or complicated urinary tract infections, fosfomycin treatment was associated with high levels of infection relapse, leading to relapse in a total of 20.4% of patients during the first two months. This indicates that fosfomycin exhibits good efficacy only for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections.

• Klíčová slova
• fosfomycin, resistance, urinary infection,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

We report the case of isolation of Bordetella trematum from the respiratory tract of a patient with lung carcinoma. This gram-negative, opportunistic rod was firstly described in 1996. To date, only several strains of Bordetella trematum have been isolated and reported, mostly from skin and soft tissue infections. The patient was admitted to the ICU of the Pulmonary Department in incipient septic shock with respiratory failure. Intravenous fluid resuscitation and non-invasive ventilation were administered immediately. A broad spectrum antibiotic piperacillin/tazobactam was administered empirically after sampling of material for microbiological examination. The bronchoscopy showed a large cavern of decayed tumour invading into mediastinum. Both sample cultures showed significant quantities of gram-negative non-fermenting bacteria. The isolate was identified using MALDI-TOF MS as Bordetella trematum and the identification was confirmed using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. In the last few years, routine bacterial identification using MALDI-TOF MS has enabled correct discrimination of this species. Nevertheless, isolation of Bordetella trematum in clinical samples is still very uncommon, and it is appropriate to confirm the species identification via 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. To our knowledge, this is the first case of B. trematum isolated from the human respiratory tract since its first description. The clinical significance of Bordetella trematum in the rapid deterioration of the patient's status remains unclear.

• Klíčová slova
• 16S rRNA sequencing, Bordetella trematum, Case report, MALDI-TOF MS, Respiratory tract,
• MeSH
• antibakteriální látky terapeutické užití   MeSH
• Bordetella účinky léků   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• dýchací soustava mikrobiologie   MeSH
• fatální výsledek MeSH
• infekce bakteriemi rodu Bordetella diagnóza   farmakoterapie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádory plic komplikace   MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 16S genetika   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• spektrometrie hmotnostní - ionizace laserem za účasti matrice MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antibakteriální látky MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 16S MeSH

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Infections caused by herpes simplex viruses (HSV) are frequent in the human population. Because of the widespread use of long-term treatment or prophylaxis by anti-herpetic antivirals in various specific medical contexts (immunosuppression, recurrent infections), the level of antiviral resistance is increasing. According to previous studies, there is a low resistance level in immunocompetent populations but a relatively high level in populations with immunodeficiency. However, there has been no study from the Czech Republic. This study presents results of a single-centre retrospective study from the Czech Republic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Deep frozen DNA from patients with suspected clinical antiviral failure over a long time period (2009-2016) - a total of 15 isolates of HSV1 and seven of HSV2 - were examined for the presence of mutations associated with antiviral resistance. Sequence analysis was performed using an ABI PRISM 3500xL Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems®). RESULTS: There were no mutations associated with resistance to antivirals inside the UL23 gene in HSV1 isolates. However, resistant mutation D672N (nucleotide change G2014A) was found inside the UL30 gene in seven of the isolates. One mutation associated with resistance to acyclovir (M183stop) was found inside the UL23 gene in one HSV2 isolate. Resistant mutation E678G (nucleotide change A2033G) was identified inside the UL30 gene in six of the HSV2 isolates. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed the presence of resistance mutations within the Czech population, but it will be necessary to examine a higher number of isolates for further conclusions.

• Klíčová slova
• Antiviral resistance, Herpes simplex virus, Sequencing,
• MeSH
• acyklovir farmakologie   MeSH
• antivirové látky farmakologie   MeSH
• DNA-dependentní DNA-polymerasy genetika   MeSH
• exodeoxyribonukleasy genetika   MeSH
• herpes simplex farmakoterapie   virologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikrobiální testy citlivosti MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• neúspěšná terapie MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• Simplexvirus účinky léků   genetika   MeSH
• virová léková rezistence genetika   MeSH
• virové proteiny genetika   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• acyklovir MeSH
• antivirové látky MeSH
• DNA polymerase, Simplexvirus MeSH Prohlížeč
• DNA-dependentní DNA-polymerasy MeSH
• exodeoxyribonukleasy MeSH
• virové proteiny MeSH