Biomedical subjects

R Chlíbek

Publications and source records attributed to R Chlíbek.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Long-term protective effect of post-exposure Havrix administration during viral hepatitis Type A outbreaks.

Administration of human normal immunoglobulin (HNIG) post-exposure has been routinely used in Slovakia for outbreak control of hepatitis A, but requires deep intramuscular injection, provides only short-lived protection and is a human blood product. The protective effect of post-exposure administration of an inactivated hepatitis A vaccine was evaluated during 10 outbreaks in Slovakia. Direct contacts of confirmed hepatitis A cases received either: a single dose of hepatitis A vaccine (n = 2171) or immunoglobulin (HNIG, n = 3837). In the HNIG group the number of hepatitis A confirmed cases dropped within the first 7 weeks, however the decrease was not as rapid or as marked as that observed in the vaccinated group where the number of hepatitis A cases dropped within the first 4 weeks after vaccination. Among contacts, 67 cases of hepatitis A were detected during the maximum incubation period of 45 days: 16 cases (0.7%) in the vaccine group and 51 cases (1.3%) in the HNIG group (p < 0.05). After two and three years respectively, 50 and 39 volunteers who had previously received one dose of hepatitis A vaccine received a booster dose and anti-HAV antibodies were measured. Differences in anti-HAV antibody GMCs before and after the booster were statistically significant. The longer time interval (3 years instead of 2) between primary vaccination and booster administration did not seem to impact the magnitude of the booster response. The results of this study show that active post-exposure immunisation with only one dose of inactivated vaccine confers high and long-term protection and effectively controls viral hepatitis A outbreaks.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

[Outbreak of Marburg hemorrhagic fever in Angola].

Marburg hemorrhagic fever is a rare acute viral fever illness with a serious clinical course often leading to a fatal outcome. The lethality rate ranges between 25 and 80 %. Both the virus reservoir and mode of transmission to humans are unknown. Close contact with body fluids of infected persons is prerequisite for secondary human to human transmission. Seriousness of the infection is underlined by the unavailability of specific treatment and vaccination. The outbreak in Angola in 2004-2005 accounted for the highest prevalence of the disease recorded to date. As many as 374 cases were reported by August 23, 2005, 329 of these were fatal; the lethality rate was 88%. In comparison with the previous outbreaks, the afflicted area is unusually vast, includes populated zones, and intensive secondary transmission is observed.

Angola↗

PubMed2006

[Seroprevalence of antibodies against hepatitis A virus and hepatitis B virus in nonvaccinated adult population over 40 years of age].

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalence rates of antibodies against hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the general adult male and female population over 40 years of age with no history of viral hepatitis A (VHA) and viral hepatitis B (VHB) who have never been vaccinated against hepatitis and to assess the cost-effectiveness of the pre-vaccination serological screening. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2003-2004, a total of 972 persons of three age categories: 41-50 years, 51-60 years, 61 and more years, were screened. Persons with a history of VHA and/or VHB and those who had been vaccinated against hepatitis were not included in the study. The following four indicators were determined from a 5 ml specimen of whole venous blood by electrochemiluminiscence assay: total anti-HAV antibodies, total anti-HBc antibodies, anti-HBs antibodies and HBsAg, as the most suitable markers of experienced hepatitis or previous vaccination. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of anti-HAV antibodies were lower in females compared to males for all of the three age categories. These antibodies were detected in 16.8%, 52.9% and 77.5% of 41-50-year-olds, 51-60-year-olds and > or = 61-year-olds, respectively. The total prevalence rate for the three age groups was 61.6%. The anti-HBc antibody seroprevalence rates were 1.9%, 5.3% and 6.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The results show high prevalence of VHA in higher age groups. Such a high seroprevalence of antibodies in nonvaccinated persons with no history of viral hepatitis is suggestive of a very frequent incidence of asymptomatic infection. For this reason, the prevaccination screening of anti-HAV antibodies is cost-effective in the population over 50 years of age but is not justified in persons under 40 years of age. Prevaccination screening for anti-HBc antibodies appears not to be cost-effective regardless of age in view of their low prevalence in the Czech population.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

[Ebola and Marburg fever--outbreaks of viral haemorrhagic fever].

With an increasing frequency of traveling and tourism to exotic countries, a new threat-import of rare, very dangerous infections-emerges in humane medicine. Ebola fever and Marburg fever, whose agents come from the same group of Filoviridae family, belong among these diseases. The natural reservoir of these viruses has not yet been precisely determined. The pathogenesis of the diseases is not absolutely clear, there is neither a possibility of vaccination, nor an effective treatment. Fever and haemorrhagic diathesis belong to the basic symptoms of the diseases. Most of the infected persons die, the death rate is 70-88 %. The history of Ebola fever is relatively short-30 years, Marburg fever is known almost 40 years. Hundreds of people have died of these diseases so far. The study involves epidemics recorded in the world and their epidemiological relations. Not a single case has been recorded in the Czech Republic, nevertheless a sick traveler or infected animals are the highest risk of import these diseases. In our conditions, the medical staff belong to a highly endangered group of people because of stringent isolation of patients, strict rules of barrier treatment regime and high infectivity of the diseases. For this reason, the public should be prepared for possible contact with these highly virulent infections.

Africa↗

PubMed2005

[Prevention of the development and importation of infections in members of the Army of the Czech Republic participating in foreign missions].

Over the last years, Czech soldiers became involved in several foreign missions. In 2001-2003 more than 4000 persons participated in such missions. Since their activities are typically associated with high health risks including that of acquiring infectious diseases, the significance of prevention is underlined. Preventive antiepidemic measures taken in soldiers of the Army of the Czech Republic before their deployment and upon return home are described. Prior to being dispatched on a foreign mission any soldier is screened at the department for occupational diseases at the military hospital. Such a screening enables to identify persons with impaired health who are unfit for the mission. Upon return home any soldier is screened for infectious diseases. The scope of the screening varies with geographical area where the mission took place. In the case of missions to areas at high epidemiological risk such as Afghanistan and Iraq, substantially enlarged laboratory screening is conducted with an emphasis on serodiagnosis of infectious diseases. An important step in the prevention of infectious diseases is vaccination prior to mission deployment. The vaccination schedule has developed over years to currently include vaccination against tetanus, viral hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever, type A and C meningococcal meningitis and poliomyelitis and is being further modified in agreement with the latest recommendations and known risks. Soldiers can also be vaccinated against other diseases such as influenza and rabies. The prevention of infectious diseases as described in this article is based on travel medicine applied to the military environment.

Czech Republic↗

PubMed2002

[Effectiveness of influenza vaccination in healthy adults--a fourfold decrease in influenza morbidity during one influenza season].

INTRODUCTION: Despite the existence and availability of effective and safe influenza vaccines, influenza still remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, incl. all economic consequences and the increased number of days of work incapacity. Vaccination against influenza is an effective method of prevention of the disease and its complications. Nevertheless many people still do not trust the effectiveness of anti-influenza vaccination, incl. many physicians, nurses and other health professionals. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccination against influenza in healthy adults aged 18-60 years, vaccinated with one of the five commonly available vaccines. The evaluation is based on notifications of influenza and influenza--like diseases. METHOD: The trial comprised 375 subjects vaccinated against influenza during a given season, as a control group served 340 non-vaccinated subjects. Both groups of volunteers were investigated for six months. During this period the incidence of influenza or influenza--like diseases was recorded, the presence of local and general influenza symptoms, the number of days of work incapacity and the number of visits to the doctor. These data were obtained by the postal correspondence method. RESULTS: In the group of 375 vaccinated subjects 17 (4.5%) became ill. In the group of non-vaccinated subjects 65 (19.1%) became ill. The difference in the incidence of influenza was statistically significant. In subjects vaccinated against influenza a 73-76% effectiveness of vaccination was achieved. Subjects in the non-vaccinated group reported more than a fourfold incidence of influenza as compared with vaccinated subjects. The symptoms of the disease did not differ significantly in the two groups. The most frequent symptom of the disease which was recorded in both groups was fever higher than 38 degrees C, pain in the joints, myalgia and finally cough. More than two thirds of the sick volunteers visited their doctor while ill. CONCLUSION: From the results of the study it is obvious that vaccination against influenza in healthy adults significantly reduces the incidence of influenza, reduces the number of days of work incapacity and leads to a diminution of the number of medical examinations. Vaccination against influenza is effective in the prevention of the disease and is beneficial also for healthy non-risk population groups.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Evaluation of reactogenicity and immunogenicity of two influenza vaccines (vaxigrip and fluarix) in the season 1996-1997.

Influenza is a very serious disease, which causes thousands of deaths all over the world every year. As there is so far no sufficiently effective causal therapy of influenza the main function of vaccination lies in prevention. Influenza is a major problem especially in collective facilities. Therefore, great emphasis is laid in the Czech Republic Army on the vaccination of military groups and on the evaluation of reactogenicity and immunogenicity of the vaccines used. The specific aim of the clinical trial was to evaluate the reactogenicity and immunogenicity of two inactivated split influenza vaccines Fluarix and Vaxigrip in healthy adult volunteers aged 18-60 years with stress on military groups. The study was designed as an open clinical trial with 2 groups each of 100 volunteers in one centre. Randomisation was not conducted so that each group received only the vaccine specified beforehand. Both the inactivated split vaccines evaluated, Vaxigrip and Fluarix are highly immunogenic both against declared and other antigenic variants of influenza. The study has demonstrated a favourable trend in the preparation of influenza vaccines towards a marked reduction of general solicited symptoms as compared with previous years. Despite minute differences in immunogenicity and reactogenicity, the vaccines are generally speaking comparable, and in healthy individuals aged 18-60 years they induce a sufficient protection against the onset and development of influenza. The results of our open clinical trial (without randomisation) have again proved that both manufacturers produce vaccines of a high European standard.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

[Antimicrobial and physico-chemical aspects of antiseptics based on the iodine-polyvinylpyrrolidone complex].

Antimicrobial efficacy of modern antiseptics-iodophores based on the iodine-polyvinylpyrrolidone complex using standard suspension tests and their modifications and screening methods with bacteriophage phi X 174 was studied. The study was completed with molecular modelling of structural and spatial distribution of these substances with the help of computer programme HyperChem 2.0. Using calculation methods of quantum and molecular mechanics the conditions and results of the antimicrobial efficacy of these antiseptics were described.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗