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AimsIn recent years, Europe has recorded an increase in the number of measles outbreaks despite the implementation of vaccination into the National Immunization Programs. The Czech Republic introduced vaccination against measles into National Immunization Program in 1969. The aim of this study was to determine seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against measles in adults.MethodsOur study was designed as a prospective, multicenter cohort study. Samples of blood were taken from adults aged 18 years and over. Specific IgG antibodies were determined by ELISA method.ResultsA number of 1911 sera samples were obtained. The total seropositivity reached 83.3%, 14.3% of the results were negative and 2.4% were borderline. When comparing the individual age groups, the highest antibody seropositivity (> 96%) was detected in persons aged 50 years and over who were naturally infected in pre-vaccine era. The lowest seropositivity was recorded in the age groups 30–39 years (61.5%), 40–49 years (77.5%) and 18–29 years (81.1%).ConclusionsA long term high rate of seropositivity persists after natural measles infection. By contrast, it decreases over time after vaccination. Similarly, the concentrations of antibodies in persons with measles history persist for a longer time at a higher level than in vaccinated persons. Our results indicate possible gap in measles protection in adults born after implementation of vaccination into the National Immunization Programs. There are two probable reasons, decrease of measles antibody seropositivity in time after vaccination in setting of limited natural booster and one-dose vaccination schedule used in the first years after implementation.

Mumps outbreaks, especially in adolescents and young adults, have been reported in the Czech Republic. The aim of the presented study was to determine the seroprevalence of specific IgG antibodies against mumps in the adult population of the Czech Republic. The study was designed as a multicenter serological survey of adults aged 18 years and over. Specific IgG antibodies against mumps were detected in blood samples using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 1,911 serum samples were examined. The overall seropositivity reached 55.3%. In individual age groups, the highest seropositivity 63% (63.5-65.2%) was recorded in adults aged 40 years and over; the lowest seropositivity was found in adults aged 18-29 years (27.4%). The difference in seropositivity rate between the 18-29 years age group and the 40 years and over age groups was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Only the 18-29 years age group included both vaccinated and unvaccinated (born in the pre-vaccine era) individuals. In vaccinated individuals, seropositivity was reported in only 19.1% of persons; in unvaccinated individuals, seropositivity reached 48.2%. Our results demonstrate the long-term persistence of antibodies following natural infection and the decrease in seropositivity that occurs after vaccination over time. This immunity waning may account for the higher susceptibility of adolescents and young adults to mumps. Therefore, the current vaccination program in the Czech Republic could be considered as less effective. It will be modified with the shifting of the second dose of vaccine from two years of age to the preschool age.

The air does contains microbial agents originally coming from the soil, water, plants or animals, including men. Temperature, light and humidity are the basic factors which has influence of microbial survival and abundance. Different microorganisms travel by aerial transmission and are involved in serious processes causing pneumonia and other diseases. In our study we decided to investigate microbial load in air at the Transplant Intensive Care Unit of the University Hospital of Hradec Králové, Czech republic for two years period. Air samples were taken from the patient's breathing zone in the single rooms. Air was sampled with Biotest RCS Plus air sampler and material collected on the Total Count strips prepared with Tryptic Soy Agar. The majority of air samples (54.2%) had microbial air load ≤ 100 CFU.m-3. Very low microbial air concentration from 15 to 30 CFU.m-3 was detected in the rooms before admission of new patients. Higher concentration was detected when medical staff was present in the room and investigation or treatment was carried out. The majority of microbial findings in the air were Gram-positive cocci (coagulase-negative staphylococci, Micrococcus spp., Sarcina spp.). Findings of Gram-negative stems were sporadic (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) as well as incidence of microscopic fungi (Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp.).

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SummaryThe evolution of varicella zoster virus lasts more than 400 million years. While primates were the original reservoirs of the virus, subsequently VZV started to circulate in human population and humans have been the exclusive hosts for VZV for more than 45 000 years. VZV is a highly contagious and neurotropic herpetic virus a member of the herpesviridae family.Its primary infection results in typical signs of varicella (chickenpox). After that, the virus establishes lifelong latency in trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia. Endogenous viral reactivation, thought to be associated with waning VZV specific T cell mediated imunity, leads to herpes zoster (shingles), especially in older adults and immunocompromised persons (VZV is the only human herpetic virus exhibiting entirely different clinical picture).