High hepatitis B and low hepatitis C prevalence in Roma population in eastern Slovakia.

BACKGROUND: Viral hepatitis B and C prevalence in the Roma population of eastern Slovakia is largely unknown. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and associated risk factors of chronic viral hepatitis B and C among Roma living in segregated communities in eastern Slovakia. METHODS: Data from the cross-sectional HepaMeta study conducted in Slovakia in 2011 among Roma living in rural communities were used. Participants were tested for the presence of HBsAg, anti-HBc IgG and anti-HCV. The risk factors were assessed mainly via a structured questionnaire/interview. RESULTS: Altogether 452 Roma were screened, and 11 were excluded due to missing data. A total of 441 patients were included (mean age 34.7 +/- 9.14 years; 35.2% men). 12.5% of participants were HBsAg positive, 40.4% anti-HBc IgG positive while negative for HBsAg and 47.2% of participants were negative for all serological markers of hepatitis B. Hepatitis C prevalence was very low (0.7%), while 2 out of 3 anti-HCV positive participants were coinfected with hepatitis B. Risk factors for hepatitis B infection were male sex, higher age, tattoo, and previous imprisonment. No difference was found in intravenous drug use, blood transfusions and sexual behaviour. CONCLUSION: More than half of the Roma residing in eastern Slovakia have been infected at one point in life with the hepatitis B virus, and 12.5% are HBsAg positive. Hepatitis C prevalence is very low, which is probably due to very low intravenous drug use.

[Methods of phenotypic determination of New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM-1) in Klebsiella penumoniae isolated in Slovakia].

OBJECTIVES: Reported is the first isolation and phenotypic determination of Klebsiella pneumoniae producing New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM-1) isolated from patients in the Slovak Republic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 27 October 2012 and 22 January 2013, twenty-five isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae collected from 5 patients were identified with MIC of meropenem ≥ 32 mg/L and MIC of ertapenem ≥ 4 mg/L in screening tests. Next, all isolates were assessed with the modified Hodge test, combined disk test with EDTA, double disk synergy test with EDTA and MBL E-test. To confirm production of MBL in isolated strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, all strains were sent to the National Reference Center for Antibiotic Resistance in Bratislava. RESULTS: All strains were positive in all phenotypic tests. In the first carbapenem-resistant isolate, NDM-1 production was confirmed by PCR amplification, sequencing and comparison with the GenBank. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of isolation of NDM-1 from Klebsiella pneumoniae in the Slovak Republic. As of 31 January 2014, with well-established and strict epidemiological and preventive measures, there was no further spread or another outbreak of NDM-1 producing Enterobacteriaceae in Louis Pasteur University Hospital in Kosice.

Distribution and antifungal susceptibility of yeasts isolates from intensive care unit patients.

Yeasts frequently colonize non-sterile sites in the body. The aim of the study was to determine distribution in clinical samples and antifungal susceptibility to five antifungals. From January 2013 through June 2015, 800 isolates were obtained from intensive care unit patients. Candida albicans (58.9%), Candida glabrata (20.4%), Candida krusei (8.6%), and Candida parapsilosis (3.6%) were the leading species. Majority of the C. albicans isolates were susceptible to the fluconazole. Elevated voriconazole minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were observed in isolates exhibiting high fluconazole MICs, most frequently in C. glabrata. Isolates with echinocandins MICs suggesting reduced susceptibility were only sporadic cases with the exception of Trichosporon spp. The amphotericin B MICs were slightly higher for some C. krusei.