Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Neonates Admitted to a Tertiary Care NICU in Bulgaria.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the second most common hospital-acquired infection (HAI) among neonatal patients in the intensive care units (ICUs) and is a serious challenge for neonatologists because it affects critically ill patients who need prolonged mechanical ventilation. In Bulgaria, there is no detailed data at regional and national levels on the characteristics of VAP in newborns, which imposes a necessity for specific studies of risk factors and etiology of VAP. The aim of the study was to analyze the frequency, characteristics and risk factors for the occurrence of VAP in newborns hospitalized in intensive care unit.

Booster immunity - diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B viral infection.

Introduction: Diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection particularly its occult form requires monitoring and repeat serological and molecular studies. The aim of the study was to investigate the possible relation between the case of a family outbreak of hepatitis A and the finding that a member of this family was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B.

Methodology: A mother and her two sons, one previously diagnosed with chronic HBV infection, were hospitalized due to suspected acute hepatitis.

Bisphosphonate-associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaws: a Survey of the Level of Knowledge of Dentists about the Risks of Bisphosphonate Therapy.

Introduction: Bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaws (BAONJ) is a side effect of treatment with bisphosphonate (BP). Reports of this complication have increased recently.

Aim: To evaluate the level of knowledge of dentists from Plovdiv, Bulgaria, about possible complications of bisphosphonate therapy of patients in dental practice.

A Technical Problem in Diagnosis Clarity of Solitary Spinal Cord Neurofibroma in an Eleven-month-old Boy.

Spinal neurofibroma is one of the rarest of the neoplasms involving the spinal cord or roots and occurs much less often than neurinoma, meningioma or glioma. The sixth pediatric case of solitary intramedullary tumor was described in 2013, according to B. Eljebbouri et al.

A survey of occupational risk exposures and behaviour of healthcare workers.

Unlabelled: To reduce the risk of transmission of microorganisms standard precautions are taken for all patients expected to be exposed to blood, body fluids, or have contacts with mucous membranes and non-intact skin. These preventive measures are by far the best way to protect healthcare workers from adverse infections.

Aim: To analyze occupational risk exposure of healthcare workers occurring when the latter come into contact with blood or other potentially infectious liquid in order to assess some aspects of the application of standard preventive measures.

Immune response and immunologic memory in medical personnel vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine.

Unlabelled: The occupation-related nature of Hepatitis B viral infection in medical personnel has been well documented in a lot of studies. The only reliable way of prevention of this infection is immunisation with hepatitis B vaccine.

Aim: To follow-up the primary immune response after immunisation with recombinant vaccine and its duration in adult immunocompetent subjects.

Immunological and microbiological investigations of patients with burn injuries.

Unlabelled: Susceptibility of patients with burn injuries to infections is associated with disturbances of the humoral and cell-mediated immunity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the dynamics of phagocytic indices and serum immunoglobulin levels in patients with burn injuries as there is a high risk of colonization and infection of the burn wound.

Patients And Methods: Between December 2004 and April 2005, we studied the dynamics of the following indices of the phagocytic system and humoral immunity of 30 burned patients: phagocytic index, phagocytic number, nitro blue tetrazolium chloride test, leukocyte number in the peripheral blood, the percentage of the neutrophilic leukocytes from the differential blood count, serum levels of immunoglobulins A, G and M and the percentage of lymphocytes.