Vesna Suljagic

Emergence of NDM-1 Metallo-β-Lactamase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Isolates from Serbia

ABSTRACT This work reports, for the first time, the presence of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase 1 (NDM-1) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Moreover, this is the first report of the NDM-1 presence in the Balkan region. Cosmid gene libraries of carbapenem-nonsusceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates MMA83 and MMA533 were screened for the presence of metallo-β-lactamases. Accordingly, both MMA83 and MMA533 carried the blaNDM-1 gene. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis indicated that strains MMA83 and MMA533 belonged to different clonal groups. Five additional isolates from different patients clonally related to either MMA83 or MMA533 were found to be NDM-1 positive.

Risk factors for Clostridium difficile infection in surgical patients hospitalized in a tertiary hospital in Belgrade, Serbia: a case–control study

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to investigate independent risk factors (RFs) connected with healthcare-associated (HA) Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in surgical patients, its frequency per surgical wards and in-hospital-mortality at a single hospital.MethodsRisk factors for the infection were prospectively assessed among surgical patients with laboratory confirmed HA CDI and compared with a control group without HA CDI.ResultsThe overall incidence rate of HA CDI was 2.6 per 10000 patient-days. Significant independent RFs for HA CDI were the use of carbapenems (P = 0.007, OR: 10.62, 95% CI: 1.93–58.4), the admission to intensive care unit (P = 0.004, OR:3.00, 95% CI:1.41–6.40), and the administration of 3rd generation cephalosporins (P = 0.014, OR:2.27, 95% CI:1.18–4.39). Patients with HA CDI had significantly higher in–hospital mortality compared to controls (P: 0.007; OR: 8.95; 95% CI: 1.84–43.43).ConclusionsCDI is an important HA infection in population of surgical patients and this study emphasizes the importance of the wise use of antibiotics, and other infection control strategies in order to prevent HA CDI, and to decrease the incidence and in-hospital mortality rate.

Predictors of Hospitalization and Admission to Intensive Care Units of Influenza Patients in Serbia through Four Influenza Seasons from 2010/2011 to 2013/2014

A retrospective analysis of the surveillance data on laboratory confirmed cases of influenza in 4 post pandemic seasons in Serbia was performed to evaluate predictors of hospitalization and admission to intensive care units (ICU). The specimens, including nasal and throat swabs were tested for influenza. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Data of a total of 777 confirmed influenza cases were analyzed. Age > 65 years, the presence of any co-morbidity or the presence of ≥ 2 comorbidities, infection with influenza virus subtype A (H1) pdm09, and an interval greater than 3 days between symptom onset and the first physician visit, were independently associated with hospital admission. These variables, as well as infection with non-subtype influenza virus A, were predictors for ICU admission. Obesity and chronic neurological disease were independent predictors for ICU admission but not hospitalization. Overall, 41.7% of patients with influenza had at least one co-morbidity, but only 3% of all patients were vaccinated against influenza. Identification of high risk groups and education of these groups regarding their increased susceptibility to severe forms of influenza, and in particular regarding the importance of influenza vaccination, is essential.

Surgical site infections and other healthcare related infections in cohort of urological patients, 2010-2013

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) and other healthcare related infections continues to be significant problem in surgical patients across the globe. Aim: To analyze and compare the surveillance data from large cohort of patients operated in Clinic for Urology, Military Medical Academy Methods: A prospective cohort study was performed to identify incidence rate and risk factors for surgical site infections (SSI) from 2010 to 2013. Infection control personal collected general and healthcare related data about patients. The microbiologic testing was performed at the Institute of Medical Microbiology by routine methods. Results: A total of 3823 surgical procedures (3288 patients) were included in the study. The lowest incidence rate was observed in kidney surgery (total nephrectomy - 2.4% and partial nephrectomy - 3.6%), and highest during bladder surgery (total cystectomy - 21.6% and partial cystectomy - 23.5%). The postoperative infections (RR: 2.018; 95%:1.111 -3.666; SE: 0.305; p: 0.021), dra inage (RR:10.417; 95%CI:4.339 - 25.011; SE: 0.447; p: 0.000), preoperative length of hospital stay (RR:0.909; 95%CI: 0.880 - 0.939; SE: 0.017; p: 0.000) and total length of hospitalization (RR:1.140; 95%CI:1.117-1.164; SE: 0.010; p:0.000), as well as contamination class (RR:1.633; CI95%:1.215 - 2.194; SE:0.151; p:0.001) are independent risk factors for SSI in this cohort of patients. Incidence rate of diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile was 5.01 to 10 000 patient days. The most common cause of SSI and urinary tract infections was Klebsiella spp. Conclusion: The greater attention has been given to adherence to recommendations for the prevention and control of SSIs as well as management of multidrug resistant organisms in urology department.