National Laboratory Surveillance of Influenza in Macedonia during Four Seasons.

Objective: The aim of the study is to comprehend results of the influenza lab surveillance system in the Republic of Macedonia after the 2009 pandemic and to determine the main characteristics of four consecutive epidemic seasons (from 2010/2011 until 2013/2014).

Methods: As part of the universal surveillance system, nasal and throat specimens were collected from patients. After extraction of RNA, the CDC real-time RT-PCR assays for the detection of influenza types and subtypes were performed.

Comparison of Directigen Flu A+B with Real Time PCR in the Diagnosis of Influenza.

Unlabelled: Early diagnosis and treatment of patients with influenza is the reason why physicians need rapid high-sensitivity influenza diagnostic tests that require no complex lab equipment and can be performed and interpreted within 15 min. The Aim of this study was to compare the rapid Directigen Flu A+B test with real time PCR for detection of influenza viruses in the Republic of Macedonia.

Materials And Methods: One-hundred-eight respiratory samples (combined nose and throat swabs) were routinely collected for detection of influenza virus during influenza seasons.

Methods for molecular surveillance of influenza used in Macedonia.

The Aim: To present and compare different Nucleic Acid Testing assays used for laboratory diagnosis of influenza virus infection in our country.

Materials And Methods: Respiratory samples used were nose and throat swabs. The RNA extraction was performed with a QIAamp viral RNA kit.

Laboratory surveillance during pandemic influenza season 2009/2010 in Republic of Macedonia.

Objective: To provide virological and epidemiological information on patients laboratory-tested for influenza A/ H1N1pdm during the pandemic season April 2009/May 2010.

Materials And Methods: Demographic and other data were obtained from the request form arriving with the samples of patients whose symptoms met the clinical definition of influenza A infection. The RNA was tested for the presence of influenza virus using the CDC real-time RT-PCR assay.

The first survey about the antibiotic usage in the Republic of Macedonia.

Development of antibiotic resistance represents a major global and Macedonian public health problem. To assess the opinion and knowledge of the citizens of Macedonia about the usage of antibiotics, voluntary and anonymous survey was realized. A total of 239 persons (age 10-67 years) were interviewed.

Nutritional status and growth parameters of school-age Roma children in the Republic of Macedonia.

Main objective of the study was to assess the nutritional status of school age Roma children in Macedonia in order to detect precursors of possible health risks at an early age. The study was designed as a comparative case control study. Study group consisted of 229 Roma school children from the 1st and 272 from the 5th grade residing in different towns in Macedonia.