Epidemiological characteristics of neonates born to mothers infected with COVID-19: A single-centre observational study.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 disease can affect women at any stage of pregnancy, and newborns could become infected with SARS-CoV-2 through vertical or horizontal transmission. Little is known about SARS-CoV-2 infection in neonates born to mothers with COVID-19. Experts emphasize the importance of ensuring the safety of newborns without compromising the benefits of early contact with the mother. The aim of the study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of newborns born to mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: Observational, prospective cohort study was conducted in the intensive care unit of the perinatal center (Georgia). Information was collected by reviewing and personal observations of medical histories of newborns born to mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: The study included 38 newborns with suspected (n = 16; 42.1%) and confirmed (n = 22; 57.9%) COVID-19 infection cases, treated in the neonatal intensive care unit. The study did not reveal the risk of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection and confirmed a fairly large rate of horizontal transmission of infection (n = 25; 66%). Skin-to-skin mother care was performed in 68.7% of newborns, 26.3% received exclusive maternal or donated breast milk during hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Prevention of horizontal transmission of infection in newborns should be a priority. It is recommended skin-to-skin mother care and maternal or donated breast milk during hospital stay, taking into account the health of the mother and the newborn, following the rules of hygiene and use of the mask by the infected mother.

Analysis of Critical Incident Reporting System as an indicator of quality healthcare in a cardiology center in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Critical Incident Reporting System (CIRS) have become most common patient safety tools in healthcare. The purpose of this study was to determine how effectively CIRS is used and how well healthcare professionals recognize it as a risk management tool. A quantitative approach using a cross sectional survey was adopted. The most common critical incidents were due to lack of personal attention and related to individual errors. The most of the critical incidents arise from non-adherence to guidelines and standards. CIRS can be seen as an effective clinical risk management tool that can be used to identify potential sources of critical incidents and help ensure patient safety at a healthcare organization.

CARDIAC IMPLANTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE INFECTIONS - PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT AND IMPACT ON QUALITY OF LIFE.

For several decades, highly refined cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) are used to prevent and manage various types of cardiac pathology, which have saved the lives of many patients. Cardiac implantable electronic devices help maintain and improve the quality of life by regulating the heart rate, terminating life-threatening arrhythmias, and improving systolic function, including pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices. Regardless of the benefits received after its implantation, in some cases, serious complication has appeared, such as CIED infections, associated with severe morbidity, mortality, financial expenses and changes in the quality of life. Exactly, in this article will be addressed the issues of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition, which will help specialists to properly assess the problem and to find a way to effectively solve it.

STUDENTS POPULATION'S ATTITUDE CONCERNING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN GEORGIA.

The aim of this study were to investigate the attitude of university students on the environmental issues, analyze the information received and develop measures for the participation of students in environmental health-improving and preventive activities.. The qualitative study was conducted by using face to face interviewing method with university students. Environmental pollution is one of the most important threats in Georgia and arount the world. The immediate objects of pollution are land, water, soil, air, which directly affects human health and worsens it. The participants have favorable attitudes toward the environment, but they are less involved in environmental activities. Basically these measures are limited to the so-called one-time campaigns. Based on the results, it is recommended the development of integrated measures and schemes to stimulate student participation in the implementation of socially active algorithms to improve the environment.

THE ROLE OF NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM: WORLD PRACTICE AND GEORGIA (REVIEW).

The health care market is substantially different from other areas of the economy and therefore the behavior of health care providers operating in the health care market is different, which is mainly related to the form of ownership. If the market is mainly characterized by the pursuit of maximum profit, medical services market has for some public good features. Because of this, non-profit hospitals in western countries are considered as an alternative form of commercial hospitals. The purpose of the research was to study the role of not-for-profit hospitals, and in this regard examine the situation of the medical market in Georgia. The existing literature about non-profit hospitals, relevant legislation and statistical data, scientific articles, and other related works. The majority of the hospitals in Georgia represent profitable (commercial) organizations. 41,1% of the hospitals owned by private insurance companies, 29,1% by individuals, 18,4% by other types of companies, 3,2% by other forms and 8% is state-owned. In contrast to this, more than 50% of the healthcare system of West Europe as well as USA is composed of non-profit (commercial) hospitals. In Georgia there is no sufficient motivation for operating of hospitals as non-profit organizations. It is necessary to further adjust tax benefit in the Tax Code of Georgia and share European experiences. It is reasonable to increase the role of non-profit hospitals on the health care market that will increase accessibility to healthcare services for population and moreover. It will bring Georgian healthcare system close to the experience of civilized world.

ROLE OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN RE-HOSPITALIZATION OF PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE.

Re-hospitalization of cardiac patients is a great financial burden not only for healthcare system, but also for patients. Main aim of the research is to identify features and reasons of re-hospitalization and to determine ways of reducing. Within the Quantitative research, we have analyzed data of re-hospitalized patients during 30 days. Within the qualitative study, in-depth survey of medical staff and patient conducted. Main reason of re-hospitalization is that patients do not fulfill doctor's prescriptions after discharging from hospital. This is because of financial difficulties and lack of developing family doctor institution in the country. Usually, after discharging patient from hospital, for medical supervision he/she addresses to family doctor very seldom. There is no coordination between family and hospital doctors. Primary health care plays a significant role in the reduction of re-hospitalization rate. In this regard, it is important to increase the role of the family doctor, to improve procedure of discharging patients, continuous medical supervision on patients, to expand outpatient services package in state healthcare programs, to improve day care centers.

INTRODUCTION OF UNIVERSAL HEALTH PROGRAM IN GEORGIA: PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES.

Since 2013, Georgia enacted Universal Healthcare (UHC) program. Inclusion of uninsured population in the UHC program will have a positive impact on their financial accessibility to the health services. The study aims to analyze the referral rate of the beneficiaries to the health service providers before introduction and after application of the UHC program, particularly, how much it increased the recently uninsured population referral to primary health care units, and also to study the level of satisfaction with the UHC program. Research was conducted by qualitative and quantitative methods. The target groups' (program beneficiaries, physicians, personnel of the Social Service Agency) opinions were identified by means of face-to-face interviews. Enactment of the UHC programs significantly raised the population refferal to the family physicians, and the specialists. Insignificantly, but also increased the frequency of laboratory and diagnostic services. Despite the serious positive changes caused by UHC program implementation there still remain the problems in the primary healthcare system. Also, it is desirable to raise the financial availability of those medical services, which may cause catastrophic costs. In this respect, such medical services must be involved in the universal healthcare program and been expanded their scale. For the purpose of effective usage of the limited funds allocated for health care services provision, the private health insurance companies should be involved in UHC programs. This, together with the reduction of health care costs will increase a competition in the medical market, and enhance the quality of health service.