Comparison of isolates occurring in optochin-susceptible and optochin-resistant variants by analyzing whole-genome sequencing data.

Unlabelled: The paper presents the study of a set of isolates of , which comprised two heterogeneous subpopulations, one of which was susceptible and the other resistant to optochin. The aim of the study was to compare the results of serotyping, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), ribosomal multilocus sequence typing (rMLST), and variation analysis of these subpopulations and to investigate the genetic probable causes of optochin resistance. The strains studied were cultured from samples taken from patients with invasive pneumococcal disease in the Czech Republic in 2019 and 2020.

The importance of microbiology reference laboratories and adequate funding for infectious disease surveillance.

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.

[Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 8 and 22F causing invasive pneumococcal disease in the Czech Republic in 2014-2020: whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis].

Aim: An analysis is presented of whole genome data of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 8 and 22F isolated in the Czech Republic from invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in 2014-2020. New multivalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) are effective against these serotypes. Recently, serotypes 8 and 22F have been among the leading causes of IPD in the Czech Republic.

[Prevalence of the M1UK sublineage among emm1 Streptococcus pyogenes invasive strains isolated in the Czech Republic from December 2022 to May 2023].

Aims: Since December 2022, an increase in invasive disease caused by Streptococcus pyogenes has been observed in the Czech Republic, with a shift in the clinical presentation and age of patients. Unlike in previous years, invasive disease is more common in children and adolescents under 18 years of age and in previously healthy middle-aged adults. An increase has been noticed in the number of S.

[Posibilities for use of whole genome sequencing (WGS) for the analysis of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates].

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is a Gram-positive coccus causing both non-invasive and invasive infectious diseases. Pneumococcal diseases are vaccine preventable. Invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) meeting the international case definition are reported nationally and internationally and are subject to surveillance programmes in many countries, including the Czech Republic.