ABSTRACT
Aim: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is still a major threat not only to the youngest age group of children but also to adolescents and young adults. Higher rates of meningococcal disease have also been reported in specific at-risk groups, such as secondary and tertiary students and members of the military. Infection occurs after close contact with a clinically ill individual, but most often with an asymptomatic carrier. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of carriage of N. meningitidis in young persons newly enlisted in the Army of the Czech Republic (ACR). Material and methods: During August 2021, persons entering the service in the ACR were asked to participate in the presented study approved by the Ethics Committee. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected from the study participants in August. A questionnaire survey was administered to each of them after signing an informed consent form. The biological samples were cultured on the day of collection and analysed for N. meningitidis. In case of meningococcal detection, the serogroup of N. meningitidis was determined. For most of the study participants, swabs were repeated after 2-3 months, in October and November. Swabs were also collected from additional participants, namely students entering the first year of bachelor and master studies at a military college. Results: A total of 252 newly recruited young military professionals, 201 males and 51 females, were included in the study. Carriage of N. meningitidis was found in 13 study participants, i.e., 5.2 % of all tested subjects, with a predominance of positive findings in the summer period. All carriers were males while in females, meningococcal carriage was not detected. In carriers, serogroup B was predominant over non-groupable isolates (NG). There was no evidence of carriage of meningococcal groups A, C, W, X, or Y. Meningococcal isolation was significantly more successful from oropharyngeal compared to nasopharyngeal swabs. Only in five of 17 positive findings, meningococci were detected from both the oropharynx and nasopharynx. No isolation was made from the nasopharynx alone. Conclusion: The lower percentage of meningococcal carriage in young military professionals in the Czech Republic in the study period 2021 as compared to similar reports on military collectives from other countries can be attributed to the current epidemic situation, where the measures taken in connection with the efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 resulted in the loss of seasonality of respiratory diseases and also their significantly lower incidence. This correlates with a reduction in carriage in the monitored age category.
Subject(s)
Meningococcal Infections , Neisseria meningitidis , Carrier State , Cross-Sectional Studies , Prevalence , HumansABSTRACT
Most cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection are asymptomatic or have only mild respiratory symptoms. Patients with risk factors, including but not limited to advanced age, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and immunosuppression, may develop a severe course of disease due to the development of a cytokine storm. COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk of bleeding and thromboembolic complications, with the gastrointestinal tract and CNS being among the most frequent sites of bleeding. One of the causes of vessel wall rupture and subsequent bleeding in COVID-19 may be dysfunction of the damaged endothelium. Viral infections are one of the most potent triggers of autoimmune diseases. One of the possible causes of haemorrhagic stroke is virus-induced acute vasculitis.
ABSTRACT
Cancer patients have an increased risk of infectious complications, the main cause of which is an immunodeficiency condition caused by the cancer itself and its therapy. Therefore, it is appropriate to protect patients by vaccination, in particular vaccination against influenza, pneumococcal infections and covid-19. Appropriately chosen vaccines and the right timing of their administration can as a part of supportive care contribute to the success of cancer therapy.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 affected the whole world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 140 million people worldwide have been infected and over 3 million people have died. COVID-19 has affected medicine, education, economics and social life. COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. It belongs to the family Coronaviridae. Six other coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory disease in man. The association between viral diseases and autoimmune diseases is well known, although the exact mechanisms remain unclear. Even the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus can cause various autoimmune disorders, including type 1 diabetes mellitus. At the University Hospital in Hradec Kralove, we diagnosed new-onset diabetes mellitus in four young patients. © 2021 TIGIS Spol. s.r.o.. All rights reserved.