Incidence and risk factors of nosocomial infections after cardiac surgery in Georgian population with congenital heart diseases.

Nosocomial infections still remain a serious problem in patients undergoing open heart surgery. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence, etiology and main risk factors of nosocomial infections (NI) following cardiac surgery in congenital heart diseases population. Retrospective case study was conducted. 387 patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), who underwent cardiac surgery from January 2007 to December 2008 were studied. The age of the most patients varied between 1 day to 15 years, 73 patients (18,8%) were older than 15 years. All 387 patients underwent cardiac surgery. The rate of NI was 16%. The most common infections were bloodstream infections (BSI) (7,75%) and respiratory tract infections (7%) respectively. The rate of NI was higher in patients under 1 year of age, after urgent surgery and urgent reoperation, long cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and aortic cross-clamp time, also in patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation, massive haemotransfusion, with open heart bone after surgery, reintubation, hospitalization in another hospital during last three month. It was concluded that the most common nosocomial infection after cardiac surgery congenital heart diseases in Georgian population was blood stream infection. The main risk factors of NI in the same setting were age under 1 year, urgent surgery, urgent reoperation, long CPB and aortic cross-clamp time, long duration of mechanical ventilation, massive haemotransfusion, open heart bone after surgery, reintubation, hospitalization in another hospital during last three month.

Oral lesions in HIV-positive patients in Georgia.

To study the prevalence of oral lesions in HIV infected patients and its relationship with CD4+ cell count in Georgia 732 HIV positive adult patients who were admitted to the Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Center (IDACIRC) since January, 2006 till October, 2008 were evaluated. Each patient underwent full clinical and standard laboratory examination. CD4+ cell count was determined by the Becton-Dickinson FACSCalibur flow cytometer (MultiTEST CD3 FITC/CD8 PE/CD45 PerCP/CD4 APC Reagent). Socio-demographic data was obtained using a standard questionnaire at the epidemiology department of IDACIRC. Oral manifestations were diagnosed according to EEC clearinghouse classification (1993). Oral lesions were revealed in 546 patients (75%). 186 patients (25%) did not exhibit any oral complications. The prevalence of two or more simultaneously exhibited types of lesions was as follows: three types of lesions were detected in 45 patients (6%) and two types of lesions were detected in 245 patients (33%). The investigation revealed oral candidiasis constituted the most common form of oral lesions, representing a 64% (467 patients), followed by HIV associated periodontal diseases in 216 patients (30%), recurrent aphthous like ulcerations in 118 patients (16%), oral hairy leukoplakia in 58 patients (8%), orolabial herpes simplex infection in 50 patients (7%), human papillomavirus (wart like lesions) in 37 patients (5%) and Kaposi's sarcoma in 3 patients (0.4%). Most of oral lesions cases were found in patients with low CD4+ cell count. Results of this study provide evidence that mucous membrane disorders with HIV infection might serve as an indicator for advanced HIV infection, immunosuppression and decreased CD4 cell counts. The physicians who are taking care of HIV patients have to be familiar with HIV-associated mucocutaneous diseases, their diagnoses, and management.

[Functional status of haemostasis system in patients with visceral leishmaniasis].

During the last decades in Georgia was observed significant increase of cases of visceral leishmaniasis and fight against this disease became important problem as far as the management of this disease is rather problematic. According to references and our clinical experience patients with visceral leishmaniasis are predisposed to bleeding. The objective of our study was the assessment of functional status of hemostasis related to the degree of clinical severity. We have studied platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time, thrombin time, plasma concentration of fibrinogen, the soluble fibrin-monomeric complexes (SFMC), fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products (D-dimer) and anticoagulant protein C. Haemostatic functional tests were studied in 45 patients with visceral leishmaniasis before and after treatment (with 20-25 day intervals). Before treatment the reduction of platelet count was observed in 95%. Prolonged APTT and prothrombin time was found in severe forms of the disease. Thrombin time prolonged in 45.7%, SFMC level was increased in 80% (p=0.003) and D-dimer level in 95.6% (p=0.023). Protein C was in normal value in 73%. The results indicate that leishmania infection affects primary haemostasis, coagulation and fibrinolysis and these alterations are related to the severity of clinical symptoms. Investigation of SFMC and D-dimer showed that in case of visceral leishmaniasis activation of intravascular coagulation takes place, particularly during the severe forms of the disease, study of these markers is of the diagnostic and prognostic importance and the treatment at an early stage of infection may potentially avoid the possibility of developing an uncompensated DIC.

[Study of intravascular coagulation activation markers in patients with visceral leishmaniasis].

During last decades significant attention has been paid to the increase of protozoal infections including leishmaniasis. The management of this disease is rather problematic. Significant increase of cases of this disease was observed in Georgia as well. The problem of visceral leishmaniasis is very important nowadays. According to references and our clinical experience patients with visceral leishmaniasis are predisposed to bleeding. The objective of our study was the assessment of functional status of hemostasis in patients with visceral leishmaniasis. We have studied the intravascular activation markers of blood coagulation -- the soluble fibrin-monomeric complexes (SFMC) and fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products (D-dimer) in order to reveal the disorders of hemocoagulation. SFMC and D-dimer we studied in 45 patients with visceral leishmaniasis before and after treatment (with 20-25 day intervals). One patient with severe generalized bleeding died within 72 hours of admission. SFMC measurements were conducted by the orthophenantroline test (Renam, Russia). D-dimer level was measured using FDP-Slidex Direct kit (Bio-Meriou, France). Especially high levels of SFMC and D-dimer have been revealed in cases of severe form of visceral leishmaniasis. SFMC level was increased by 80% (p=0,003), and D-dimer level by 95,6% (p=0,023). There was correlation between numbers of platelets and intravascular blood coagulation markers. Investigation of SFMC and D-dimer showed that in case of visceral leishmaniasis activation of intravascular coagulation takes place, particularly during the severe forms of the disease. Study of these markers is of the diagnostic and prognostic importance and for the initiation of treatment at an early stage of infection, which may potentially avoid the possibility of developing an uncompensated DIC.