Faculty of Medicine

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Author: search.filters.author.Brava, EdmondLanguage: search.filters.language.English

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    FREQUENCY OF SURGICAL SITE INFECTIONS FOLLOWING SURGICAL TREATMENT OF ISOLATED FRACTURES: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY
    (Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 2024)
    Vejseli, Valentin
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    ;
    Brava, Edmond
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    Kacarska, Aleksandra
    Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a frequent and serious complication that occur after surgical treatment of isolated fractures, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospital stays, and higher healthcare costs. This study aimed to identify the frequency and risk factors associated with SSIs. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 51 patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) surgery for isolated fractures and later developed bacterial infections. We analyzed factors such as the presence of comorbidity, patient age, gender, body region affected, and duration of the operation. We used multinomial logistic regression and chi-square tests as statistical analyses to examine the relationships between these factors and the types of pathogens as a cause of bacterial infection, classified as Gram-positive bacteria only, Gram-negative bacteria only, or both. Results: Our study found that in 18%, 56% and 26% of patients the cause of infection was Gram-positive, Gram-negative and both groups of bacteria, respectively. The factors that did not significantly predict the type of bacterial infection were: comorbidity presence, although the observed trends suggested further investigation was needed; duration of operation; and patient age. Gender analysis concluded a marginally significant association, with males less likely to have infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria. Additionally, the body region affected showed a marginally significant correlation with infection type, with the thigh region being more sensitive to infections caused by Gram-negatives. Our study highlights trends and marginal associations in SSIs post-ORIF surgery, suggesting the need of personalized infection control strategies.
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    Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards the influenza vaccine among the adult population in North Macedonia
    (Royal Academy of Medicine of the Balearic Islands, 2024-01-22)
    Gacova, Ivana
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    Radevska, Ana Marija
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    Ivkovska, Sanja
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    Brava, Edmond
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    Skeparovska, Keti
    Introduction: Vaccination against seasonal influenza is the most effective way to prevent infections, hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of the North Macedonia adult population towards seasonal influenza vaccine. Materials and methods: A prospective cross-sectional study in November-December 2022 among the adult population of North Macedonia was conducted. A total of 1012 respondents filled in the 4-item semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire collected information on demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards the influenza vaccine. The chi-square test was used to test for associations and logistic regression was used to determine the effect of variables on the possibility of vaccination. Results and discussion: The median age of the respondents was 36 years, predominantly female (73.5%). Only 7.8% of respondents received the influenza vaccine in the previous season (2021/2022) and 12.4% planned to vaccinate in the current season. A statistically significant difference between the vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals was established in terms of age groups and the presence of comorbidity (χ2=11.246, p=0.004). The vaccinated respondents significantly more often tend to consider the influenza vaccine as safe (χ2=5.026, p=0.025) and effective (χ2=11.247, p=0.001). Respondents who had comorbidities, who considered the vaccine as effective, and were not afraid of possible side effects were 3 times, 2.0 times, and 1.8 times more likely respectively to have received an influenza vaccine. Additionally, the respondents who tend to rely more on social media and internet as the main source of information regarding the flu vaccine were 0.5 times more likely to have rejected the vaccine. Conclusion: Addressing influenza vaccine safety, efficacy, patient-specific recommendations and encouraging effective physician communication and counselling are some of the key areas for increasing knowledge and awareness.