Prevalence of Hepatitis B is relatively low in developed European countries. However specific subpopulations may exist within each country with markedly different Hepatitis B burden. Roma minority is very numerous in Slovakia and their lifestyle is completely different to non-Roma population. The aim of this study is to map Hepatitis B prevalence in Roma and compare it to non-Roma population and to explore potential socio-economic and health related risk factors. Cross-sectional epidemiology study was performed in Slovakia that included randomly sampled Roma population and geographically corresponding random sampled non-Roma population. Comprehensive questionnaire about risk factors was administered and blood samples were drawn for Hepatitis B serology and virology tests. Altogether 855 participants were included. Global Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) positivity rate was 7.7% (i.e., active Hepatitis B) and anti Hepatitis B core IgG antibody (antiHBcIgG) positivity rate was 34.6%. Roma population had significantly higher prevalence of Hepatitis B, both active chronic infection (12.4%; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 9.58%–15.97% versus 2.8%; 95% CI 1.56%–4.91%; p < 0.0001) and antiHBcIgG positivity (52.8%; 95% CI 48.17%–57.44% versus 25.9%; 95% CI 12.56%–20.02%; p < 0.0001) Main risk factors for HBsAg positivity were Roma ethnicity, male sex and tattoo. Conclusion: There is a very high prevalence of Hepatitis B in Roma communities in Slovakia, with potential for grave medical consequences.

The complement system is a key component of innate immunity, responsible for mediating the rapid clearance of pathogens and coordinating adaptive immune responses. Although complement activation is essential for effective infection control and prevention, its excessive or dysregulated function contributes to the pathogenesis of various immune-mediated disorders. Therefore, therapeutic inhibition of the overactive complement cascade, in which specific components are selectively blocked to suppress pathological activation, plays an important role in the treatment of various complement (immune)-mediated diseases. This article provides an overview of complement inhibition as a therapeutic strategy, highlighting the infectious risks associated with its use. Disruption of complement-dependent host defence mechanisms increases the risk of invasive infections (caused by encapsulated pathogens, e.g., Neisseria spp., Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type B), which represent a significant clinical challenge. Therefore, the use of complement inhibition should not only be effective but also safe in combination with the application of all possible tools to prevent infections. Strategies, such as vaccination and antibiotic prophylaxis, are crucial to minimise these complications, despite the persistence of the risk of breakthrough infections. Furthermore, this review examines advancements in patient risk stratification, evaluates alternative preventive measures, and identifies key gaps in current clinical practice. Future directions include improving monitoring protocols, creating more selective or locally acting complement inhibitors, and implementing biomarker-driven personalised therapies that maximise benefits while reducing side effects.

Introduction and objective: Intestinal parasitoses are important causes of morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised individuals. In patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI), the accumulation of non-excreted metabolites leads to uraemia, which induces a state of...

This study assessed age-specific measles immunity in healthcare professionals who were at risk of occupational infection during the 2018 measles epidemic in Slovakia. The goal was to identify measles-susceptible age groups and to compare findings with the 2018 National Immunological Survey. Data from 546 healthcare professionals at the Children's Faculty Hospital in Košice, Slovakia, were collected from September to December 2018. Based on epidemiological history, the cohort of healthcare professionals was categorized into measles-immune and measles-susceptible groups. Samples from measles-susceptible healthcare professionals were analyzed for measles IgG antibodies. Of the 546 healthcare professionals at risk of occupational infection, 294 (53.8 %) were classified as measles-susceptible. Seropositivity was detected in 252 (85.7 %) healthcare professionals; 33 (11.2 %) were seronegative, and nine (3.1 %) yielded equivocal results. The lowest age-specific immunity rates within the measles-susceptible cohort were found in the 30–34 years (61.5 %) and 35–39 years (69.1 %) age groups. This corresponds to the lowest seropositivity (68.3 %) observed in the 35–39 age group in the 2018 National Immunological Survey. The low measles immunity observed in specific adult cohorts highlights the need for routine serological screening and targeted re-vaccination of susceptible individuals, particularly among healthcare professionals in high-risk hospital settings.