Background: Toxoplasma gondii (TG) is a parasitic protozoon that may cause miscarriages or birth defects if the infection occurs during pregnancy. The study’s aim was to evaluate the risk factors associated with TG infection in pregnant women. Materials: Medical charts for all 273 pregnant women with suspected TG infection consecutively admitted to the Hospital of Warsaw between 2019 and 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The presumptive TG diagnosis was verified by a serologic assessment of IgM and IgG titers, and IgG affinity tests. Results: The median age was 32 years (range: 19–42 years). The diagnosis of primary TG infection was confirmed in 74/273 (27.1%) women. In 114/273 (41.8%) there was evidence of past infection. In 71/273 (26%) women, an infection was excluded. In 172/273 (62%) women the recommended testing for other infectious diseases putting fetus development at risk was performed correctly. Logistic regression model analysis revealed that living in rural areas and eating raw meat were independent factors associated with increased risk of TG infection during pregnancy (OR 2.89, 95% CI: 1.42–5.9, p = 0.004; and OR 2.07, 95% CI: 1.03–4.18, p = 0.04, respectively). Conclusions: The independent risk factors for TG infection during pregnancy include living in rural areas and eating raw meat. The physician’s educational role here is crucial for the efficient prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis.

Introduction: Healthcare workers in Poland received a booster dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech, Manufacturer: Pfizer, Inc., and BioNTech; Moguncja, Germany) at the beginning of October 2021. Here, we report on the preliminary results of an ongoing clinical study into the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 of healthcare workers previously exposed to the virus, with or without evidence of past infection, in the Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Warsaw before and after the vaccine booster dose. Methods: Blood samples were collected on the day the vaccine booster dose was administered and again 14 days later. The levels of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies (against the n-protein, indicative of disease) and S-RBD (indicative of a response to vaccination) were measured. Results: One hundred and ten health care workers from the Hospital for Infectious Diseases were included in the study. The percentage of subjects with a positive test for anti-n-protein IgG antibodies at both time points remained unchanged (16, 14%), while a statistically significant increase in the percentage of subjects producing high levels of S-RBD antibodies (i.e., >433 BAU/mL) was observed (from 23, 21% to 109, 99%; p = 0.00001). Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that the booster dose of the vaccine significantly increases the percentage of people with high levels of S-RBD antibodies, regardless of previous contact with the virus, which may indicate greater protection against both the disease and a severe course of COVID-19.

People living with HIV (PLWH) are a heterogeneous group of immunocompromised persons, yet underrepresented in randomized clinical trials leading to vaccination registration. Detectable HIV viral load and having chronic comorbidities may increase the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes in this group of patients. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of vaccinations against COVID-19 in PLWH. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of medical records of HIV-positive individuals routinely followed up between 1 January 2021 and 30 April 2022 that were at the HIV Outpatient Clinic in Warsaw. The analysis included data on the type and date of administration of subsequent doses of COVID-19 vaccination, adverse vaccine reactions, and the history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results: In total, 217 patients were included in the analysis, with a median age of 43 years (IQR: 35.5–51.5 years) and median CD4+ count of 591 cells/uL (IQR: 459.5–745.0 cells/uL). Most of the patients were male (191/217, 88.0%) and were vaccinated with the BNT162b2 vaccine (143/217, 65.9%). None of the patients diagnosed with COVID-19 required hospitalization. Vaccine adverse events (VAE) mostly occurred after the 1st dose (in 33/217 (15.2%)), and none of them were severe or required medical care. Conclusions: In our cohort of patients, vaccination against COVID-19 proved to be safe and effective against a severe course of the disease among people living with HIV. However, vaccination, to a lesser degree, protects against mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. Longer observations are required in order to assess the sustainability of protection against severe COVID-19 in this group of patients.

Background: The first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Poland was reported on 4 March 2020. We aim to compare the clinical course and outcomes of patients hospitalized in the Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Warsaw due to COVID-19 during three pandemic waves. Materials and methods: The medical data were collected for all patients diagnosed with COVID-19 hospitalized in our hospital from 6 March 2020 till 30 November 2021. COVID-19 diagnosis was confirmed by nasopharyngeal swabs using real-time polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR) or SARS-CoV-2 antigen test. COVID-19 waves were defined based on the number and dynamics of cases. Results: Altogether, 2138 patient medical records were analyzed. The majority of the cohort was male (1235/2138, 57.8%), and the median age was 65 years [IQR: 50–74 years]. Patients hospitalized during the third wave had lower oxygen saturation on admission (p < 0.001) and were more likely to receive oxygen supplementation (p < 0.001). Serious complications, including pneumothorax (p < 0.001) and thromboembolic complications (p < 0.001), intensive care unit admission (p = 0.034), and death (p = 0.003), occurred more often in patients of the third wave. Conclusions: During the third wave, patients in our cohort experienced a more severe course of the disease and poorer outcomes.

INTRODUCTION. Tuberculous meningitis (TbM) and meningitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes (LM) require different treatment regimens and have grave prognosis if therapy is delayed .THE AIM OF THE STUDY. Comparison of clinical manifestations, laboratory features and outcome of TbM and LM.MATERIAL AND METHODS. We retrospectively analyzed records of 402 patients with community acquired bacterial meningitis (BM) who were hospitalized between January 2010 and September 2019.RESULTS. LM and TbM were diagnosed in 28 (7.0%) and 23 (5.7%) patients, respectively. Patients with TbM were more likely to present with hydrocephalus (p<0.001), scored lower on the Thwaites Index (TI) (p<0.001) and had longer duration of symptoms prior to hospitalization (p=0.001). Furthermore, TbM patients had lower concentration of c-reactive protein (CRP) (p<0.001) and lower white blood cells count (WBC) (p=0.035). When compared to BM patients with etiology other than LM and TbM (nLnTbM), TbM patients presented with lower concentration of CRP (p<0.001), and procalcitonin (PCT) (p<0.001), lower WBC (p<0.001), and lower granulocyte percentage of CSF cytosis (p<0.001), but were more likely to present with hydrocephalus (p<0.001), aphasia (p=0.003) and hemiparesis (p=0.008). In comparison with the nLnTbM group, LM patients had lower concentration of CRP (p=0.01), lower WBC (p<0.001), and lower granulocyte percentage of CSF cytosis (p<0.016). LM patients were also more likely to have concomitant cancer (p=0.008), receive immunosuppressive treatment (p<0.001) or be immunocompromised (p=0.015).CONCLUSIONS. TbM patients had less pronounced inflammation but more severe central nervous system complications compared to patients with LM and other etiologies. Furthermore, LM patients, but not TbM patients, were often immunocompromised. STRESZCZENIEWSTĘP. Gruźlicze zapalenie opon mózgowo-rdzeniowych (TbM) oraz listeriozowe zapaleniem opon mózgowo-rdzeniowych (LM) wymagają różnych sposobów postępowania, a opóźnienie w rozpoczęciu leczenia ma negatywny wpływ na rokowanie.CEL PRACY. Porównanie obrazu klinicznego, wyników badań laboratoryjnych oraz wyników leczenia pacjentów z TbM i LM.MATERIAŁ I METODY. Dokonano retrospektywnej analizy danych 402 pacjentów z pozaszpitalnym bakteryjnym zapaleniem opon mózgowo-rdzeniowych (BM) hospitalizowanych pomiędzy styczniem 2010 r., a wrześniem 2019 r..WYNIKI. LM zdiagnozowano u 28 (7,0%) a TbM u 23 (5,7%) chorych. U chorych z TbM w porównaniu do chorych z LM częściej występowało wodogłowie (p<0.001), niższa była punktacja w skali Thwaites (TI) (p<0.001) oraz dłuższy był czas występowania objawów przed hospitalizacją (p=0.001). Ponadto u chorych z TbM stwierdzono niższe stężenie białka C-reaktywnego (CRP) (p<0.001) oraz leukocytów (WBC) we krwi obwodowej (p=0.035) w porównaniu do pacjentów z LM. U chorych z TbM w porównaniu do pacjentów z BM o etiologii nie gruźliczej i nie listeriozowej (nLnTbM) stwierdzono niższe stężenie CRP (p<0.001), prokalcytoniny (PCT) (p<0.001), niższy WBC (p<0.001) oraz niższy procent granulocytów w płynie mózgowo-rdzeniowym (PMR) (p<0.001). Dodatkowo pacjenci z TbM częściej mieli wodogłowie (p<0.001), afazję (p=0.003) oraz porażenie połowicze (p=0.008) w porównaniu do pacjentów z nLnTbM. Z kolei chorzy z LM w porównaniu do nLnTbM mieli niższe stężenie CRP (p=0.01), WBC (p<0.001) oraz niższy procent granulocytów w PMR (p=0.016). Pacjenci z LM częściej otrzymywali leczenie immunosupresyjne (p<0.001), częściej występowały u nich zaburzenia odporności (p=0.015) oraz nowotwory (p=0.008).WNIOSKI. Pacjenci z TbM mieli niższe wartości parametrów stanu zapalnego, ale częściej występujące powikłania spowodowane uszkodzeniem ośrodkowego układu nerwowego w porównaniu do pacjentów z LM i nLnTbM. Ponadto u chorych z LM, ale nie z TbM, częściej występowały zaburzenia odporności.