[3-years' study of family contacts of HBsAg+ individuals]. / Tríleté zkusenosti s vysetrováním rodinných kontaktu HBsAg+ osob.

BACKGROUND: About 50,000 HbsAg carriers exist in Czech Republic. The most endangered group is the family members and sex partners. On the basis of positive HbsAg laboratory findings we decided to offer laboratory examination of post-infectious hepatic markers and to sero-negative also the vaccination against viral hepatitis B. METHODS AND RESULTS: The group of HbsAg carriers included 453 persons (253 males and 200 females), average age 42.3 years, within the range of 0 to 89 years. When samples were taken, 55.4% of examined persons were classified as "Healthy carrier". To offer of free examination and vaccination 410 family contacts responded. Postinfectious markers (HbsAg, antiHbsAg) were identified in 19.0% of examined persons, 78.3% of sensitive ones were vaccinated. When financial costs were evaluated, it is possible to conclude that examination and vaccination of contacts of HbsAg positive persons in the whole Czech Republic using the same method and similar collaboration may require 58.5 millions Kc. When laboratory tests were omitted, the costs may be reduced to 59.4%. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of presented data authors deduce that the legislation of Czech Republic should be quickly changed to include the precept of free vaccination of family contacts of HbsAg positive persons. In accordance with it, rational method of depistage of those persons and information transfer should be developed. Considering long-term consequences of the viral B hepatitis, unreplaceable role in the prevention and diagnostics of the infection have general practitioners.

[Incidence of tick-borne encephalitis in the West Bohemia Region 1960-1999--evaluation of vaccination]. / Výskyt klíst'ové encefalitidy v Západoceském kraji v letech 1960-1999--zhodnocení vakcinace.

In 1960-1999 in the West Bohemian region 1216 cases of tick-borne encephalitis were recorded, four were fatal. Since 1992 there was a marked increase in the number of these infections--in 1992-1999 the relative morbidity was 6.7 per 100,000 population per year, the highest specific morbidity shifted to the age group of 55-64 years. In the whole region changes occurred as to the probable transmission of infection. By the end of 1999 in western Bohemia the hygiene service immunized, by at least three doses against tick-borne encephalitis 23,225 subjects, i.e. 2.7% of the population. The negligible vaccination rate did not have so far an impact on the epidemiological characteristics of the infection. In view of the more frequent and clinically more severe affection in elderly subjects it is important to raise the vaccination rate in particular in more advanced age groups.