Cent Eur J Public Health 2022, 30(1)
Using wastewater-based epidemiology as a potential instrument for the prediction and control of COVID-19 disease outbreaks
Natalie Lowe, Vladimír Bencko
Cent Eur J Public Health 2022, 30(1):3-6 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7161 
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a significant number of cracks in the current vigilance techniques that stand to minimise outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2. There is a serious inadequacy of the testing capacity of healthcare systems worldwide, which can be attributed to the lack of appropriate testing and monitoring methods for a disease such as COVID-19. The current tools in use for COVID-19 surveillance are either expensive, not applicable to large populations or yield results after the outbreak has already occurred. The immense contagiousness in combination with a wealth of asymptomatic carriers means that RT-PCR testing is not feasible on a mass scale....
Beliefs and sentiments of parents vaccinating their children - small town perspective in Poland: a preliminary study
Paulina Bankiewicz, Anna Maria Dworakowska, Magdalena Makarewicz-Wujec, Małgorzata Kozłowska-Wojciechowska
Cent Eur J Public Health 2022, 30(1):7-12 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a5599
Objectives: Since 2009 the number of unvaccinated children in Poland has been regularly increasing. The purpose of the study was to learn what parents who decide to vaccinate their children feel and believe about their children's vaccines and in particular to find out how these sentiments and beliefs affect their attitude and decision-making with reference to vaccinations. Methods: The interviews were conducted during an immunization visit of parents whose children are covered by immunization schedule; 53 parents aged 23 to 48 years took part in the study. Most study participants were high school or university graduates living in rural areas. Children...
Analysis of drug-related infectious diseases in people who inject drugs - Pilsen Region, 2003-2018
Jan Carlos Sekera, Jiří Frýbert
Cent Eur J Public Health 2022, 30(1):13-19 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6937
Objectives: The aim of the study is to analyse drug-related infectious diseases (DRID) rates for people who inject drugs (PWID) in the Pilsen Region in order to identify the main determiners of infection risk and also to provide a foundation for comparison between this region and the others in the Czech Republic. Methods: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, we analysed the Pilsen Region's data on PWID. The data was transcribed from the 2003 to 2018 internal database of the Ulice Outreach Programme. In addition to the data regarding the testing of DRID, we analysed commercial sex work (CSW) and the PWID's duration of drug use, age and current address....
Travellers' diarrhoea - prevention, trends and role of microbiome
Radoslav Danis, Martin Wawruch
Cent Eur J Public Health 2022, 30(1):20-25 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6740
Objectives: In this review, we present a contemporary look at the management of travellers' diarrhoea (TD), and we discuss the potential role of a microbiome as well as the administration of live microorganisms in order to prevent TD. Methods: We performed a comprehensive search using the PubMed and Web of Science databases for the period 2014-2021, looking for original and review articles on travellers' diarrhoea. Results: TD belongs among the most frequent illnesses experienced by travellers. For the most part, it is manifested as an acute yet self limiting condition, and only in a few cases proceeds to a prolonged form. Epidemiological analyses...
Contamination and transmission of Mycobacteria in indoor environments of public buildings
Zhang BaoYing, Liang XiaoJun, Ban HaiQun, Liu Fan, Zhang LiuBo
Cent Eur J Public Health 2022, 30(1):26-31 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a5198
Objectives: The aim of this study was to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, M. avium subsp. avium and M. intracellulare, Mycobacterium contamination and to explore the aerosol transmission of mycobacteria in public buildings in China. Methods: A total of 552 environmental samples, namely 165 aerosol, 199 water, 70 air duct dust, and 118 soil samples, were collected from 39 public buildings and analysed using nested polymerase chain reaction. Results: The positivity rate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, M. avium subsp. avium and M. intracellulare in air samples were 0.6% and 1.8%,...
Health effects of exposure to isocyanates in a car factory
Pavlína Klusáčková, Šárka Dušková, Jaroslav Mráz, Tomáš Navrátil, Štěpánka Vlčková, Daniela Pelclová
Cent Eur J Public Health 2022, 30(1):32-36 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6805
Objectives: Isocyanates are known to induce occupational diseases. The aim of this work was to assess the health effects of exposure to isocyanates and to test the sensitivity of selected parameters for early detection of isocyanate-related allergic diseases. Methods: In total, 35 employees from one factory were tested: 26 workers exposed to isocyanates (exposed group) and nine office workers (control group). All subjects filled in a questionnaire regarding possible health problems. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and spirometry were measured for each subject at the same time during two consecutive working days. A urine sample was taken for...
Assessment of smoking in adolescents - a sample from vocational education centre
Sevgi Pekcan, Yasemin Durduran, Reyhan Evci, Fatma Gökşin Cihan, Gökçen Ünal, Asli İmran Yilmaz
Cent Eur J Public Health 2022, 30(1):37-45 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6965
Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse the knowledge and attitudes about smoking in young people between 16-20 years of age, who were both working and attending the Vocational Education Centre. Methods: This study was conducted with high school students at the Vocational Education Centre. The socio-demographic questionnaire and the Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND) were applied to the students using a face-to-face interview technique. Secondly, interactive educations on smoking-free life and smoking-related diseases were given. At last, CO (carbon monoxide) levels and respiratory functions were evaluated. Results: Of the students...
Real-life experience in the effectiveness, impact on quality of life and safety of dupilumab treatment in patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in the Czech Republic
Milena Tánczosová, Martina Kojanová, Monika Arenbergerová, Petr Arenberger, Tomáš Doležal, Daniela Štrosová, Jorga Fialová, Spyridon Gkalpakiotis
Cent Eur J Public Health 2022, 30(1):46-50 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6885
Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of dupilumab therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in a real-life Czech bicentric cohort. Methods: We retrospectively analysed 50 patients with moderate-to-severe AD treated with dupilumab in two centres in the Czech Republic. Baseline characteristics, the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) were collected at baseline and each 3 following months. The proportion of patients achieving EASI50, EASI75, EASI90 and EASI100 were analysed. Levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) were collected before and after...
Trans fatty acids in frequently consumed products from Serbian and Slovenian market
Danijela Ristić-Medić, Snježana Petrović, Tomaž Polak, Jasna Bertoncelj, Aleksandra Arsić, Marija Takić, Vesna Vučić, Mirjana Gurinović, Mojca Korošec
Cent Eur J Public Health 2022, 30(1):51-57 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a5928
Objectives: Industrially produced trans fatty acid (iTFA) have adverse health effects and thus their consumption should be limited. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the iTFA content in frequently consumed food products by young adults from the Serbian and Slovenian market with supposedly elevated iTFA content in 2015. At the time of this study, there was no recommended limit of iTFA in both countries, and reduction of iTFA in foods was on voluntary basis. Methods: We determined iTFA content in food products, 19 from the Serbian and 22 from the Slovenian market, blinded and analysed in the same analytical run. Contents of fatty acids...
Burden of sudden cardiac death in persons aged 1-40 years in the Czech Republic
Kristina Rücklová, Martin Dobiáš, Matěj Bílek, Štěpánka Pohlová Kučerová, Markéta Kulvajtová, Terézia Tavačová, Ivan Nagy, Petr Tomášek
Cent Eur J Public Health 2022, 30(1):58-64 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a6793
Objectives: The aim of the study was to ascertain the incidence, circumstances and causes of sudden cardiac death in persons aged 1-40 years in the Czech Republic. Methods: De-identified autopsy reports of all individuals who died suddenly between the ages of 1-40 years during the period 2014-2019 inclusive in a selected area of the Czech Republic were analysed retrospectively. Persons with substantial cardiovascular pathology defined by histopathological criteria and those with a negative autopsy were included in the study. The latter were designated as sudden arrhythmic death syndrome. Results: In total, 245 sudden cardiac death cases were identified...