Clinical features, treatments and outcomes of influenza A (H1N1) 2009 among the hospitalized patients in the clinic for infectious diseases in Novi Sad.

Background/aim: Most infections caused by influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus are presented by mild respiratory symptoms. However, some patients required admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). In this article we aimed to describe the clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients with influenza A (H1N1) 2009, antiviral therapy use, the disease outcome and risk factors associated with the severe disease.

[Blood concentrations of lactate, C-reactive protein, and creatinine as early indicators of severity and outcome of sepsis].

Introduction: Since the outcome in septic patients can significantly be improved if the appropriate therapy is introduced timely early, the early diagnosis of sepsis and its complications is essential. The aim of this study was to compare mean values of the initial blood concentrations of lactate, C-reactive protein and creatinine and the severity of illness and the outcome of sepsis.

Materials And Methods: A total of 30 septic patients were included in the study.

[Application of antibiotics in vulnerable groups].

Introduction: Antibiotics are substances that possess bacteriostatic or bactericidal effect. Their administration is widespread in the treatment as well as in the prevention of many infections in general population, and especially in vulnerable groups.

The Elderly And Antibiotics: Respiratory and urinary infections are the most common infections in the elderly.

[Antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial infections of the central nervous system].

Introduction: The aim of antimicrobial treatment of infections in the central nervous system (CNS) is to eradicate the bacterial cause. The choice of antibiotics should take into account its activity, pharmacokinetic properties, results of clinical trials, side effects and total treatment cost. Despite the fact that pharmacokinetics affects the ability of antibiotics to penetrate the blood brain barrier (BBB) significantly, the most important factor is that meningeal inflammation increases the permeability barrier.

[Novelties in antimicrobial therapy].

Microorganisms are the oldest forms of life on the planet--they are around 3.5 billion years old. They are characterised by the fast changing generations and by genetic flexibility.

[Progress in antimicrobial therapy].

Introduction: Not so long ago, back in the 1900s, infectious diseases were the leading cause of death world wide. The doubling of our life span in the 20th century was achieved, first of all, by using bioactive natural products, their secondary metabolites or their derivates. These substances have prolonged our life span, reduced the pain and suffering and, at the same time, revolutionized medical science.

Leptospirosis distribution related to freshwater habitats in the Vojvodina region (Republic of Serbia).

The retrospective study (2002-2007) for human leptospirosis in Vojvodina was undertaken in order to describe the distribution of the disease in relation with some environmental factors. Regarding the presented results, the major detected number of leptospirosis cases concurs with stagnant waters, wetlands, fish pond areas and protected regions, which comprised the basis for mapping of the region in three risk zones: very high risk (incidence rate higher than 5.0), high risk (2.

[Immunomodulatory actions of antibiotics].

Introduction: Antimicrob drugs and immune system interaction has been studied since the pioneer works of Metchnikoff. After the introduction of antibiotics in clinical practice this area has attracted little attention of investigators, because of the lack of standards. This is the reason that the studying of the influence of antibiotics on immune system is still at its beginning.

[Various clinical manifestations of brucellosis infection].

Introduction: Brucellosis is an acute, subacute or chronical disease, from the zoonosis group, caused by various types of bacteria belonging to genus Brucellae. It is transmitted to humans from domestic animals: goats, sheep, cattle, pigs and dogs. The course of the disease may either be asymptomatic, or produce a variety of clinical manifestations, ranging from light ones to extremely severe clinical forms.

[On the development of the infectology service in Novi Sad].

Introduction: Infectious diseases are a part of the history of this region. Devastating epidemics of plague, smallpox, and cholera were frequent during the 18th and the 19th centuries. Other infectious diseases were a serious problem as well: alimentary tract infections, scarlet fever, diphtheria, whooping cough.

[Pharmacoeconomical analysis of antibiotic use at the Clinic For Infectious Diseases of the Clinical Center of Vojvodina].

The investigation was performed in three phases and included all patients hospitalized at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases of the Clinical Center of Vojvodina. The first phase comprised retrospective evaluation of the total antibiotic use in therapy of all bacterial infections during a three-month period in 2006/2007. A total cost of all spent antibiotics was calculated, and a daily dose per 100 clinical day care was defined In the second phase, the structure of bacterial causes and their resistance to standard antimicrobial therapy was established for all isolated strains at the Clinic for infectious diseases.

[Polymicrobial infections and new antimicrobial drugs].

Man's desire to conquer diseases and to find a cure for them exists from the beginnings of humankind However the first scientific discoveries of substances with antibacterial effects originate from 1877 and they are attributed to the researches of Louis Pasteur Ever since, we have been living in so-called antimicrobial era. The battle between microorganisms, trying to survive antimicrobials, and man's wish to conquer diseases, resulted in the development of resistance to antimicrobials, but simultaneously led to the development of novel antimicrobials. Their role is primarily in therapy of complicated and polymicrobial infections caused by multiresistant strains.

[Diseases caused by viruses and toxins in biological warfare and bioterrorism].

Introduction: Viruses and toxins, as well as bacteria and rickettsia can potentially be used as biological weapons in conflicts or in bioterrorism.

Use Of Biological Weapons: The infection can be acquired by inhalation of aerosols, ingestion of contaminated food or water, or direct contact with the skin or mucosa. Special attention must be given to the possible use of genetically modified agents.

[Diseases caused by bacteria and rickettsia in biological warfare and bioterrorism].

Introduction: Until recently, the use of biological weapons was considered more from an academic than practical point of view. The list of agents and/or toxins that can be used as biological weapons is long. Some of them are highly lethal, while others cause morbidity and disability.

[Aging and infection].

Epidemiology: Aging is a natural process and a part of our lives, but nowadays there is an increase in the number of persons aged 65 and over. Today infectious diseases are still responsible for one-third of all deaths in the world. The elderly population is most vulnerable to serious infections and at greatest risk for death and complications.

[Neurocysticercosis--5 years' experience at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases].

Introduction: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common parasitic disease with wide distribution which is caused by larval forms of Taenia Solium. Our aim was to: show the most common clinical manifestations of patients with NCC and their importance in diagnosing this disease; examine the value of serologic diagnostic methods in blood and cerebrospinal fluid; to emphasize the value of radiological diagnostic methods--CT and MRI of the brain, in relation to the applied protocol of therapy, as well as the impact of anti-parasitic therapy on the outcome of this disease.

Material, Methods And Results: 13 patients with NCC (from 35 to 63 years of age, median age 49; 61.

[Clinical importance of adenoviral infections].

Introduction: The aim of this article was to point to ubiquitous adenoviral infections and to give a literature overview. Adenoviral infections present with a variety of clinical manifestations, causing many differential diagnosis problems.

Diagnosis And Epidemiology: In our country diagnosis is made using the complement fixation test (CFT), which detects antibodies due to soluble group specific antigen.

[Lyme disease--new findings on its physiopathology, diagnosis, therapy and prevention].

Introduction: Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease caused by a spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, which manifests as a multisystem disease of the skin, nervous system, heart and joints. Recently it is the most common vector-borne disease in Yugoslavia.

New Epidemiological Studies: New epidemiological studies revealed that ticks can occasionally be infected not only by Borrelia burgdorferi, but also by some other microbes that can cause diseases in humans.

[Anthrax--the past, present and future].

History: Anthrax has been known since ancient times. Besides some references in the Old Testament, there is evidence of plagues in ancient Egypt, as well as descriptions of the disease by the Roman poet Virgil.

Etiology: Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis, unmovable, aerobic, gram-positive rods.