Paretic complications of tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme neuroborreliosis in the Czech Republic: Characteristics and clinical outcome.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB), the most common tick-borne diseases of the central nervous system in Central Europe, are frequently associated with pareses. The aim of this study was to characterise paretic complications in patients with TBE and LNB, including their severity, persistence and impact on the patients' quality of life. Our retrospective observational study included patients with aseptic CNS infection due to TBE virus or Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.

[Microbiological methods for identification of the etiological agents of bloodstream infections with focus on the T2Bacteria Panel].

Blood culture is the gold standard method for identifying the etiological agents of bloodstream infections. A relatively low sensitivity and a long time to detection are its main disadvantages, resulting in delayed administration of pathogen-specific antibiotic therapy and the need to initiate empiric treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Such an approach negatively affects overall treatment outcomes and contributes to the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Cerebrospinal fluid CXCL13 in non-borrelial central nervous system infections: contribution of CXCL13 to the differential diagnosis.

Background: The chemokine CXCL13 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is used as a diagnostic marker of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). However, the elevated levels in other non-borrelial CNS infections and the lack of a clearly defined cut-off value are limitations of the test.

Methods: In our prospective study, we evaluated CSF CXCL13 levels in patients with LNB (47 patients), tick-borne encephalitis (TBE; 46 patients), enteroviral CNS infections (EV; 45 patients), herpetic CNS infections (HV; 23 patients), neurosyphilis (NS; 11 patients) and controls (46 patients).

Longer than 2 hours to antibiotics is associated with doubling of mortality in a multinational community-acquired bacterial meningitis cohort.

To optimally define the association between time to effective antibiotic therapy and clinical outcomes in adult community-acquired bacterial meningitis. A systematic review of the literature describing the association between time to antibiotics and death or neurological impairment due to adult community-acquired bacterial meningitis was performed. A retrospective cohort, multivariable and propensity-score based analyses were performed using individual patient clinical data from Australian, Danish and United Kingdom studies.

[Surgical Treatment of Cervical Spondylodiscitis].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The purpose of the retrospective study is to analyse a group of patients surgically treated for cervical spondylodiscitis. The first hypothesis states that the removal of infected intervertebral disc without its anterior column reconstruction in the acute phase of infection results in worse clinical and radiological evaluation of the patient. The second hypothesis defines that the use of titanium implant in anterior column reconstruction in the chronic phase of infection increases the risk of recurrent infection.

Invasive pneumococcal diseases in adults admitted to the Na Bulovce Hospital: Serotype replacement after the implementation of general childhood pneumococcal vaccination.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse epidemiological and clinical characteristics of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in adults before and after the introduction of the general childhood conjugate pneumococcal vaccination programme in the Czech Republic.

Material And Methods: The retrospective observational sentinel study included adults with IPD admitted to the Na Bulovce Hospital in Prague from 1/2000 through 12/2019. A case of IPD was defined as isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae from a primarily sterile site.

Repeatedly negative PCR results in patients with COVID-19 symptoms: Do they have SARS-CoV-2 infection or not?

Objective: To point out possible infection with SARS-CoV-2 in symptomatic patients despite repeated negative nasopharyngeal swab tests for SARS-CoV-2.

Material And Methods: A retrospective observational study carried out at the Na Bulovce Hospital from the beginning of the pandemic until November 2020 included patients (1) who had symptoms compatible with COVID-19; (2) whose nasopharyngeal swab PCR tests in the presence of acute respiratory infection symptoms yielded two consecutive negative results; (3) in whom SARS-CoV-2 infection was subsequently confirmed by serology. Basic demographic and epidemiological data, symptoms, laboratory test results, X-ray findings and timing of virological tests were analysed for these patients.

COVID-19 severe pneumonia: Prospective multicentre study on demands on intensive care capacities.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to obtain data on demands on the intensive care capacities to treat COVID-19 patients, and to identify predictors for in-hospital mortality.

Methods: The prospective observational multicentre study carried out from 1 March till 30 June 2020 included adult patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection with respiratory failure requiring ventilatory support or high-flow nasal oxygen therapy (HFNO).

Results: Seventy-four patients, 46 males and 28 females, median age 67.

Severe community-acquired pneumonia in intensive care.

Aim: To describe the characteristics of patients with severe pneumonia treated in Czech intensive care units (ICU) and to compare this study group with the available European and world literature data.

Material And Methods: The prospective observational study launched on 1 September 2017 includes adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia from three Czech ICUs. It focuses on demographic data, chronic comorbidity, clinical and laboratory parameters, X-ray findings, microbiological findings, therapeutic procedures, and treatment outcomes.

Disseminated Pelvic Actinomycosis Caused by .

Actinomycosis is a chronic bacterial infection characterized by continuous local spread, irrespective of anatomical barriers, and granulomatous suppurative inflammation. Due to its expansive local growth, it can simulate a malignant tumour. Subsequent hematogenous dissemination to distant organs can mimic metastases and further increase suspicion for malignancy.

Air flight barotrauma and meningitis: causality seems real.

Background: Barotrauma to the middle-ear cavity and paranasal sinuses is a relatively common flight-related health problem. Occasionally, it may result in severe mechanical or infectious intracranial complications; these have been rarely reported to date.

Objective: Four cases of acute bacterial meningitis following air travel are presented, and its pathogenesis is briefly described.

Serious imported infections: A focus on Chromobacterium violaceum.

The authors report on the main threats in the Czech Republic connected with travel and migration. The spectrum of diseases differs in the group of Czech citizens departing abroad, especially in the tropics and subtropics, from infections detected in foreigners, in particular from developing countries.A case report of sepsis caused by the exotic bacteria Chromobacterium violaceum is added to illustrate the potential severity of imported infection.

[Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of acute bacterial meningitis].

Acute bacterial meningitis is a severe infectious disease of the central nervous system. Its incidence decreases but lethality and sequelae remain high. The early initiation of appropriate treatment is a factor strongly determining the patient´s prognosis.

[Pyogenic Spinal Infections in Adults: A 5-Year Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY To describe epidemiological and clinical features of pyogenic spinal infections in patients treated at the Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Tropical Diseases of the Hospital Na Bulovce in 2010-2014, and to analyse a predictive significance of selected variables. MATERIAL AND METHODS A single-centre retrospective cohort study carried out from 1.1.

[Lactic acidosis due to metformin accumulation complicating acute gastroenteritis].

Lactic acidosis is the most severe adverse effect associated with metformin therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The risk increases in patients with impaired renal function, most commonly due to diabetic nephropathy, and may be augmented when concurrent medication with a negative impact on renal function is used. The authors present a series of three patients who were admitted to a department of infectious diseases for acute gastroenteritis and within a few hours developed shock syndrome caused by severe lactic acidosis due to accumulation of metformin.

[Invasive Pasteurella multocida infections: Two clinical cases and literature review].

Pasteurella multocida is a common commensal of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts of animals, especially cats and dogs. It is transmitted to humans through contact with animals. Bite wound infection is the most common clinical manifestation.

[A case of tuberculous meningitis associated with persistently reduced CD4+ T lymphocyte counts].

A case history is presented of a 35-year-old man admitted to the hospital with tuberculous meningitis complicated by caseous necrosis of cervical lymph nodes and thrombosis of the left jugular vein. Another complication, malignant brain edema, appeared more than one year after discharge from hospital and was managed at the neurosurgery department. The most probable cause was a post-inflammatory obstruction of the cerebrospinal fluid pathways.

[Familial occurrence of botulism - a case report].

Botulism, a life-threatening condition, is very rare in the Czech Republic. Since 1960, a total of 155 cases have been reported; between 2010 and 2012, not a single case was identified. This is a case report of familiar occurrence of botulism following consumption of home-made pork and liver pâté in three family members admitted to the Department of Infectious, Tropical and Parasitic Diseases, Na Bulovce Hospital in Prague in May 2013.

Targeted mass spectrometry analysis of neutrophil-derived proteins released during sepsis progression.

Early diagnosis of severe infectious diseases is essential for timely implementation of lifesaving therapies. In a search for novel biomarkers in sepsis diagnosis we focused on polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). Notably, PMNs have their protein cargo readily stored in granules and following systemic stimulation, an immediate increase of neutrophil-borne proteins can be observed into the circulation of sepsis patients.

[Phylogenetic and molecular analysis of A/H1N1pdm influenza viruses isolated in the epidemic season 2012/2013 from hospitalised patients with -symptoms of influenza-like illness].

Aim: To perform phylogenetic and molecular analysis of A/H1N1pdm influenza viruses isolated in the epidemic season 2012/2013 from hospitalised patients with symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI).

Material And Methods: The study set included 34 strains of the A/H1N1pdm influenza virus isolated in the Czech Republic in the epidemic season 2012/2013. The strains were analysed by partial or whole-genome sequencing.