Determinants of late presentation of HIV positive individuals: a study in Kosovo.

Background: In recent years, the global response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic has encountered significant challenges, impeding the collective aim of eliminating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. A major concern undermining this goal is the delayed presentation (late presentation - LP) of individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

Methodology: This study includes 85 HIV positive individuals with available CD4 count and viral load (VL) data at the time of HIV diagnosis, out of 169 registered people living with HIV in Kosovo.

Baló Concentric Sclerosis Mimicking Encephalitis with Seizures and Progressive Aphasia in a 26-Year-Old Woman: A Challenging Diagnostic Dilemma.

Introduction: Baló's concentric sclerosis (BCS) is a rare subtype of multiple sclerosis characterized by inflammatory demyelination within the central nervous system.

Case Presentation: This case report presents a challenging diagnostic scenario involving a 26-year-old woman diagnosed with BCS. Despite treatment, her condition did not ameliorate, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings remained unchanged.

Facial Cellulitis Caused by in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Rare Case Report.

Background: Candida cellulitis is a rare disease, primarily reported in immunocompromised patients. Atypical Candida spp. infections are increasing, largely due to the growing number of immunocompromised patients.

Visceral leishmaniasis in Kosovo: A case of misdiagnosis and diagnostic challenges.

Introduction: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease caused by various Leishmania species and is a potentially life-threatening condition. The disease is highly endemic in several regions, including the Balkans, yet information regarding its prevalence in Kosovo is limited.

Case Presentation: In this case presentation, a 62-year-old man was admitted to a hospital in Kosovo due to a persistent high fever, and after extensive evaluations and treatments, he was diagnosed with fever of unknown origin (FUO) and transferred to a hospital in Turkey.

Smoking and COVID-19 in ICU Patients.

Background: Case studies revealed an astonishingly low number of current among patients suffering from symptomatic COVID-19 compared to general population, leading to the conclusion that smoking/nicotine uptake might have a preventive effect.

Objective: This study aims to show the relation between smoking habits, present and past, and severity and outcome in COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the ICU of the University Hospital in Pristina.

Methods: This paper reports the results of possible association between smoking habits and severity and outcome of COVID-19.

Use of antibiotics in COVID-19 ICU patients.

Introduction: The role of antibiotics in the treatment in COVID-19 cases has not yet been adequately defined, and no criteria have been established for antibiotic treatment, type and duration.

Methodology: This paper reports the results of an observational study on the extent of antibiotic use in 52 randomly selected patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the University Hospital in Pristina, Kosovo with severe forms of COVID-19.

Results: Antibiotics were prescribed in all the cases (52; 100%).

Does Dexamethasone Helps in Meningococcal Sepsis?

Purpose: Prompt recognition and aggressive early treatment are the only effective measures against invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). Anti-inflammatory adjunctive treatment remains controversial and difficult to assess in patients with IMD. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of dexamethasone (DXM) as adjunctive treatment in different clinical forms of IMD, and attempt to answer if DXM should be routinely used in the treatment of IMD.

Brucellosis associated with deep vein thrombosis.

Over the past 10 years more than 700 cases of brucellosis have been reported in Kosovo, which is heavily oriented towards agriculture and animal husbandry. Here, brucellosis is still endemic and represents an uncontrolled public health problem. Human brucellosis may present with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations; among them, vascular complications are uncommon.

Dexamethasone as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of invasive meningococcal diseases.

Purpose: With this study we want to evaluate the role of dexamethasone adjuvant treatment in different clinical forms of invasive meningococcal diseases. WORK METHODS: This was a randomized, open label trial that was conducted in 147 individuals with meningococcal sepsis. All of the cases have been divided in two groups: (1) Cases with meningococcal disease and CNS infection, and (2) Cases with meningococcal disease and no affection of the CNS.

Surgical site infections in an abdominal surgical ward at Kosovo Teaching Hospital.

Background: Abdominal surgical site infections (SSI) cause substantial morbidity and mortality for patients undergoing operative procedures. We determined the incidence of and risk factors for SSI after abdominal surgery in the Department of Abdominal Surgery at the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo (UCCK).

Methodology: Prospective surveillance of patients undergoing abdominal surgery was performed between December 2005 and June 2006.

Surgical site infections in an abdominal surgical ward at Kosovo Teaching Hospital.

Background: Abdominal surgical site infections (SSI) cause substantial morbidity and mortality for patients undergoing operative procedures. We determined the incidence of and risk factors for SSI after abdominal surgery in the Department of Abdominal Surgery at the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo (UCCK).

Methodology: Prospective surveillance of patients undergoing abdominal surgery was performed between December 2005 and June 2006.