Unexpected TBEV Seropositivity in Serbian Patients Who Recovered from Viral Meningitis and Encephalitis.

The tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes a life-threatening disease named Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE). The clinical symptoms associated with TBE range from non-specific to severe inflammation of the central nervous system and are very similar to the clinical presentation of other viral meningitis/encephalitis. In consequence, TBE is often misclassified by clinical physicians, mainly in the non-identified high-risk areas where none or only a few TBE cases have been reported.

Epidemics of the central nervous system infections caused by West Nile virus in the territory of the South Backa District, Vojvodina, Serbia.

Background/aim: West Nile virus (WNV) is a neurotropic RNA virus particle which belongs to the Flaviviidae family, genus Flavivirus. It is sustained in arthropods within the transmission cycle between the mosquitoes and birds. Most commonly (80% of cases) WNV infections are asymptomatic among people.

Influenza B Viruses in the Population of Province of Vojvodina during the 2012/2013 Season: Differentiation of B/Yamagata and B/Victoria Lineages by Real-time RT-PCR, Antigenic and Phylogenetic Characterization.

Introduction: At present, two phylogenetically distinct influenza B virus lineages, B/Yamagata and B/ Victoria, co-circulate worldwide and can cause significant morbidity and mortality.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalences of two influenza B virus lineages in the population of Vojvodina and to identify their antigenic and phylogenetic properties.

Methods: A total of 369 and 334 nasopharyngeal, or nasal/throat swab samples, collected during the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 seasons, respectively, were tested using specific singleplex influenza A, influenza B, influenza B/Yamagata and influenza B/Victoria real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays.

CHIKUNGUNYA - A SERIOUS THREAT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.

Introduction: Chikungunya is a contagious disease caused by Chikungunya virus, an arbovirus from the Togaviridae family. This infection is mostly spread by mosquitoes from the genus Aedes, especially Aedes albopiclus, which have spread from Asia to America and Europe including some countries surrounding Serbia. EPIDEMIOLOGIC FEATURES: The outbreak of epidemics has been reported in Philippines, Sumatra, Java, Indonesia, West Africa region (from Senegal to Cameroon), Congo, Nigeria, Angola, Uganda, Guinea, Malawi, Central African Republic, Burundi, South Africa and India.

Clinical case series of nine patients with tuberculousmeningitis in the Clinical Centre of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, AP Vojvodina, Serbia 2001-2010.

Aim: To determine immediate risk factors of developing tuberculous meningitis, to assess the practical importance of clinical signs and findings in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) when opting for the specific therapy, and to predict the outcome of disease in relation to the beginning of treatment.

Methods: A retrospective clinical case series of nine patients with tuberculous meningitis who were treated from April 2001 until November 2010 at the Department of Infectious Diseases in Novi Sad, Serbia was presented. Data of patients' medical records and presentation of clinical and laboratory features, neuroradiologicalfindings and outcome were used.

[Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women].

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of seropositive pregnant women, i.e. of pregnant women infected with Toxoplasma gondii in order to provide an insight into the risk of developing congenital toxoplasmosis in our community.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C in injecting drug users--a 5-year follow-up.

Background/aim: Hepatitic C infection (HCV) is a systemic, generalised disease with the prevalence of inflammation in the liver. The aim of this study was to determine the success of treatment for chronic hepatitis C with pegilated interferon alfa 2a and ribavirin in injecting drug users.

Methods: This a 5-year follow-up study included 30 patients [63.

[The costs of urinary tract infection therapy with implementation of pharmacoeconomic guidelines at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases of the Clinical Center of Vojvodina].

Background/aim: The Serbian health system does not have strict guidelines for the treatment of bacterial infections. The choice of treatment is empirical which is not necessarily the same compared to the treatment guidelines from countries with a developed pharmacotherapeutic practice. In this study we compared the difference between the current treatment and the treatment taking into account the latest pharmacotherapeutic and pharmacoeconomic guidelines in order to estimate clinical efficiency of antibacterial drugs that were given as a therapy of urinary tract infections and to evaluate pharmacoeconomic aspect of this therapy as well.

[Rash in primary Epstein-Barr virus infection].

Introduction: Rash can be one of the symptoms in acute infectious mononucleosis. According to the classical literature sources, drug-induced rash can be associated with synthetic penicillin and Epstein-Barr virus itself Nowadays, a lot of case reports point to the development of rash after the administration of other groups of antimicrobials. Clinical and laboratory signs and the administration of antimicrobials in acute Epstein-Barr virus infection have been correlaed with the development of rash.

[Enterococcal endocarditis--a case report].

Introduction: Bacteria from genus Enterococcus may cause infections mostly in those who are immunocompromised and those who underwent endoscopic or surgical procedures. Endocarditis is caused by enterococci in 5-10% of cases. Its clinical presentation does not differ from endocarditis of other bacterial origin.

[The choice of antimicrobial therapy by application of pharmacoeconomic principles in view of the most frequently isolated pathogens at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases of the Clinical Center of Vojvodina].

The research on the use of pharmaco-therapeutic/pharmacoeconomic guidelines in therapy of bacterial infections was carried out in all patients hospitalized at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases of the Clinical Center of Vojvodina in a three-month period. The overall antibiotic utilization in therapy of bacterial infections was determined. The total cost of all administered antibiotics was calculated as well as the defined daily dose/100 patient-days.

[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.

[Significance of group A streptococcal infections in human pathology].

Introduction: Group A streptococci is the causative agent in 80 percents of human streptococcal infections. The only member of this group is Streptococcus pyogenes. CLINICALFEATURES OF GAS INFECTIONS: The various clinical entities and related complications caused by pyogenic streptococci are reviewed in the article.

[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.

[The choice of antimicrobial therapy in view of the most frequently isolated pathogens at the Insitute Of Surgery in the Clinical Center of Vojvodina].

Several studies have reported high rate of antimicrobial resistance, particularly in strains isolated from hospitals. The aim of this study was to review the pathogens associated with nosocomial infections at the Clinic for abdominal surgery, Clinic for urology, Clinic for orthopedic surgery and Clinic for resuscitation and anaesthesia of the Clinical Center of Vojvodina. The analysis of the collected data gave indecisive results.

[Frequency of methicilin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains in clinical spacimens obtained from hospitalized patients in 2007].

Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of both hospital- and community-acquired infections worldwide. Since the introduction of methicillin into clinical use, methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains have emerged with increasing frequency throughout the world.

[Antimicrobial resistance of the bacteria isolated from blood cultures in 2007].

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance become emerging global problem. Particularly dramatic increase in the number and type of bacteria resistant to numerous and structurally different antibiotics has taken place in the last two decades.

Materials And Methods: A total of 558 strains of different bacteria isolated from blood cultures during 2007 were tested to susceptibility to different antibiotics by disc diffusion method according to CLSI.

[Phamacoeconomic analysis of antibiotics use in the Clinical Center of Vojvodina].

Introduction: The investigation was performed in three phases and included all patients hospitalized at eight selected clinics known to be the biggest antibiotic spenders in the Clinical center of Vojvodina.

Material And Methods: 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 for each of investigated clinics.

[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.

[Mechanisms of bacterial resistance to antibiotics].

Development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics brought many problems among which the most important are infections caused by multiple resistant bacterial strains. Bacteria have amazing 'equipment' of biochemical and genetic mechanisms to ensure evolution and spread of antibacterial resistance genes. The results obtained from very important projects all around the world and in our country show that bacterial resistance to certain groups of antibiotics is very high (up to 100%), because of uncritical use of antibiotics out of these groups.

[Use of antibiotics in otorhinolaryngologic practice].

Introduction: This study investigated utilization of antibacterial agents at the Ear, Nose and Throat Department of the Outpatient Service of the Health Center Novi Sad-Liman and at the Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic of the Clinical Center Novi Sad, in the period February-March 2001.

Material And Methods: All antibacterial agents were classified as group J, regarding Anatomic-Therapeutic-Chemical Classification. Data on drug utilization were presented in Defined Daily Doses (DDD).

[Use of antibiotics in general practice and at the Clinic for Infectious Diseases].

Introduction: Optimal pharmacotherapy includes utilization of the right drug, at the right time, right duration of therapy and adequate dosage. This study analyzed utilization of antimicrobial drugs at the Clinic of Infectious Diseases of the Clinical Center Novi Sad and in outpatients of the Outpatient General Service of the Health Center Novi Sad-Liman.

Material And Methods: Utilization of anti-infective agents was examined according to Anatomic-Therapeutic-Chemical Classification (group J).