Evaluation of Drug Treatment of Bronchopneumonia at the Pediatric Clinic in Sarajevo.

INTRODUCTION: Bronchopneumonia is the most common clinical manifestation of pneumonia in pediatric population and leading infectious cause of mortality in children under 5 years. Evaluation of treatment involves diagnostic procedures, assessment of disease severity and treatment for disease with an emphasis on vulnerability of the population. AIM: To determine the most commonly used antibiotics at the Pediatric Clinic in Sarajevo and concomitant therapy in the treatment of bronchopneumonia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was retrospective and included a total of 104 patients, hospitalized in pulmonary department of the Pediatric Clinic in the period from July to December 2014. The treatment of bronchopneumonia at the Pediatric Clinic was empirical and it conformed to the guidelines and recommendations of British Thoracic Society. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: First and third generation of cephalosporins and penicillin antibiotics were the most widely used antimicrobials, with parenteral route of administration and average duration of treatment of 4.3 days. Concomitant therapy included antipyretics, corticosteroids, leukotriene antagonists, agonists of ß2 adrenergic receptor. In addition to pharmacotherapy, hospitalized patients were subjected to a diet with controlled intake of sodium, which included probiotic-rich foods and adequate hydration. Recommendations for further antimicrobial treatment include oral administration of first-generation cephalosporins and penicillin antibiotics. CONCLUSION: Results of the drug treatment of bronchopneumonia at the Pediatric Clinic of the University Clinical Center of Sarajevo are comparable to the guidelines of the British Thoracic Society. It is necessary to establish a system for rational use of antimicrobial agents in order to reduce bacterial resistance.

Suicidal ideation and thoughts of death in epilepsy patients.

BACKGROUND: Suicidal behavior is an important worldwide health problem. Psychiatric disorders, especially mood disorders, are the main risk factors for suicidal behavior. Suicide is an important cause of death in patients with epilepsy. The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of suicidal ideation in patients with epilepsy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 50 epilepsy inpatients and outpatients of both genders, aged 18 years and older, treated at the Department of Neurology, Clinical Center University of Sarajevo in the period from 1(st) of April - October 1(st) 2007. The sample was selected randomly. Applied research instruments were general questionnaire, HAM-D-17, BHS and BSS. RESULTS: Suicidal ideation and thoughts of death were present in 38% epilepsy patients. Symptoms of depression as well as feelings of hopelessness were found in half of the participants (52% and 48%), and were significantly more common in epilepsy patients with suicidal ideation. There was a significant relation of suicidal ideation with the presence of chronic pain (3.86; p=0.49), sexual/physical abuse history (5.95, p=0.015), level of hopelessness (20.7; p=0.000) and severity of depression (14.48; p=0.000) in epilepsy patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that unemployment (Exp(B) 33.9; p=0.007) and the level of hopelessness (Exp(B) 14.9; p=0.001) were independently related to suicidal ideation in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: The study has shown that the level of hopelessness and unemployment have a predictive value for appearance of suicidal ideation in epilepsy patients. In the prediction of suicidal ideation in this population of patients, there is no single variable that should be considered as specific and separate.