Distribution of vaccine-related high-risk human papillomaviruses and their impact on the development of cervical dysplasia in women in Montenegro.

Cervical cancer (CC) is the third leading cause of death in women in Montenegro. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the causative agent of CC however, HPV genotype distribution varies across regions. This study examined the distribution and impact of vaccine-related high-risk (HR)-HPVs on the development of cervical dysplasia in Montenegrin women. A total of 187 women who had a clinical indication for cervical biopsy were enrolled. Based on histopathological findings, women were classified into 2 groups, with and without dysplasia. HR-HPV was detected by real-time PCR. Twelve HR-HPV genotypes were detected in 40.6% of cervical samples. The 7 most prevalent HR-HPVs in order of decreasing frequency were HPV 16 (39.5%), 45 (23.7%), 31 (21.0%), 33 (17.1%), 18 (6.6%), 52 (6.6%), and 58 (6.6%), all of them are targeted by nonavalent vaccine. Vaccine-related HR-HPVs had a higher prevalence (92.1%) than the other HR-HPVs detected in HR-HPV-positive samples. Among HR-HPV-positive women, HPV 16 and 33 were more common in women with dysplasia than in those without dysplasia (HPV 16: 28.9 vs 7.2%; HPV 33: 11.8 vs 3.6%). HPV 16 was the most common HR-HPV genotype in cervical samples, followed by HPV 45, 31, 33, 18, 52, and 58. HPV 16 and 33 were shown to be associated with the development of cervical dysplasia. These results indicate that prophylactic nonavalent vaccine can potentially prevent approximately 90% of HR-HPV infections and 60% of cervical dysplasia cases in Montenegrin women.

Tigecycline susceptibility of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii from intensive care units in the western Balkans.

Tigecycline can be effective to treat infections of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) however, no interpretive criteria have been approved so far. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the proportion of CRAB isolates and to compare gradient test with a broth microdilution (BMD) method for tigecycline susceptibility testing of A. baumannii.This study included 349 multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter spp. collected from Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2016 and 2017. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion, VITEK2, gradient, ComASP Colistin. Tigecycline susceptibilities were interpreted according to breakpoints of European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Majority of the tested isolates were CRAB (92.8%). Tigecycline MIC50/MIC90 values were 4/8 µg/mL by BMD and 0.5/4 µg/mL by gradient test. Essential agreement for BMD and gradient test amounted to 65.1%. With EUCAST breakpoints, categorical agreement (CA) was achieved in 38% isolates. Major discordance (MD-false susceptibility/resistance) and minor discordance (mD-false categorization involving intermediate results) were observed in 10% and 57% A. baumannii, respectively. With FDA breakpoints, CA, MD and mD were observed in 44%, 16% and 47% isolates, respectively. Colistin resistance was 2.1%.The study highlights a high proportion of CRAB and several discordances between BMD and gradient test which may lead to inappropriate therapy.

Antibiotic Consumption in Hospitals and Resistance Rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli in Montenegro.

Inappropriate use of antibiotics leads to an increase in antibiotic resistance. Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria are a serious threat to public health. This study aimed to compare data on inpatient antibiotic consumption with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli invasive strains in Montenegro and provide targets for improving antibiotic use. We used the national data on antibiotic consumption from 2009 to 2015, Point Prevalence Survey data on inpatient antibiotic consumption from 2015, and national AMR data on 79 Klebsiella pneumoniae and 68 Escherichia coli isolates collected from 8 hospitals from 2016 to 2018. The most commonly used antibiotics were third-generation cephalosporins with a median annual consumption of 0.66 DDD/1000/day. Ceftriaxone was the most frequently prescribed antibiotic in the treatment of community/hospital acquired infections and surgical/medical prophylaxis. The highest resistance rates were recorded for Klebsiella pneumoniae to ceftriaxone, ceftazidime and gentamicin (93.59%, 90.79% and 89.87%, respectively), and Escherichia coli to aminopenicillins, ceftriaxone and ceftazidime (89.06%, 70.15% and 61.54%, respectively). High consumption of broad-spectrum antibiotics in Montenegro is accompanied by the high rate of resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli to these agents. Antibiotic misuse demands the introduction of an antimicrobial stewardship program in Montenegrin hospitals.

Presence of histopathological premalignant lesions and infection caused by high-risk genotypes of human papillomavirus in patients with suspicious cytological and colposcopy results: A prospective study.

Background/Aim: In patients with premalignant cervical lesions, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, at any moment, may be spontaneously eliminated, or may persist or transform cervical epithelium from a lower to a higher degree. Due to that, it is necessary to wisely select the patients who are at high risk of cancer development. The aim of the study was to establish the interdependence between a suspicious Papanicolaou (Pap) test and colposcopy with the infection caused by high-risk genotypes of human papillomavirus and the presence of premalignant cervical lesions. Methods: This prospective study used cytological, colposcopy, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of high-risk genotypes of human papillomavirus and histopathological analysis of cervical biopsy specimen. Out of 2,578 female patients sent to cytological analyses in Clinical Center of Montenegro, during 2012, 2013 and 2014, the study included 80 women who had to submit their biopsy specimens due to a suspicious Pap test and atypical colposcopy results. Results: In the group of 80 (3.1%; n = 80/2,578) of the selected female patients with suspicious Pap test and colposcopy, 2/3 or 56 (70%) of them had cervicitis, and 1/3 or 24 (30%) had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. The most common type in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia was HPV16 in 8 female patients, ie 61.53% out of the number of infected, or 33.33% out of the total number of premalignant lesions Conclusion: Patients with suspicious Papanicolaou test, colposcopy results and infection which is caused by high-risk HPV infection (HPV 16 in particular) often have premalignant cervical lesions. In these cases, histopathological confirmation of lesions is mandatory, since it serves as a definitive diagnostic procedure.

Antibiotic susceptibility of Acinetobacter species in intensive care unit in Montenegro.

The global increase in multidrug resistance of Acinetobacter has created widespread problems in the treatment of patients in intensive care units (ICUs). The aim of this study was to assess the current level of antimicrobial susceptibility of Acinetobacter species in ICU of Clinical Centre of Montenegro and determine their epidemiology. Antibiotic susceptibility was tested in 70 isolates of Acinetobacter collected from non-repeating samples taken from 40 patients. The first nine isolates were genotyped by repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR). Tigecycline was found to be the most active antimicrobial agent with 80.6% of susceptibility. All the isolates were multidrug resistant with fully resistance to cefalosporinas, piperacillin and piperacillin/tazobactam. More than half of them (58.5%) were probably extensively resistant. Seven out of nine examined strains were clonally related by rep-PCR. Our results showed extremely high rate of multidrug resistance (MDR) of Acinetobacter isolates and high percentage of its clonally spreading.

[Comparison of clinical and laboratory characteristics of viral hepatitis A and E in Montenegro].

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis E has many similarities in with hepatitis A concerning clinical picture, route of transmission and nonexistence of chronicity. Comparison of clinical and laboratory parameters of patients with hepatitis A and E to estimate characteristics of these diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Total of 54 patients divided into two groups was investigated: 27 had hepatitis A, others had hepatitis E. Detailed history past, clinical examination, liver function tests and ultrasonography of the upper abdomen, were done in all patients. Aetiology of viral hepatitis was investigated serologically by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) using commercial kits for following viruses: Hepatitis A-E viruses, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus. RESULTS: Asymptomatic infections (29.6%) and clinical forms without jaundice (59.3%) were more frequent in patients with hepatitis E. Splenomegaly was found more frequent in patients with hepatitis A than in hepatitis E (66.7% vs. 33.3%). Patients with hepatitis E had significantly lower activity of aminotransferases than patients with hepatitis A. A significant increase of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase was found in patients with hepatitis E (mean value: 120 IU/L). DISCUSSION: Our results are in concordance with other reports that hepatitis E virus infection is more common asymptomatic disease than hepatitis A. In addition, hepatocyte necrosis in hepatitis E is less extensive than in hepatitis A measured by the activity of aminotransferases. Contrary to that the value of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase is more increased in hepatitis E than in hepatitis A without exact explanation so far: CONCLUSION: Viral hepatitis E and A have differences in some clinical features and laboratory parameters although both diseases principally have resolved without consequences after 6-8 weeks.

[Impact of vaginal and cervical colonisation/infection on preterm delivery].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Preterm delivery together with insufficient body weight and death cases in newborns is the main issue in obstetrics. About 40% of preterm delivery is caused by infections. The aim of this study was to investigate whether and which bacterial infections of genital tract can be associated with preterm delivery, and depending on when diagnosis was made. METHOD: The study involved 216 pregnant women. According to pregnancy outcome, two groups were formed. The study group involved 29 pregnant women who had preterm delivery out of which nine were examined in I trimester, eight in II trimester and 12 in III trimester. The control group involved 187 pregnant women out of which 47 were examined in I trimester, 73 in II trimester and 67 in III trimester. Bacteriological examination of vaginal and cervical swabs was done in all pregnant women. Infection was diagnosed by finding bacterial antigen in cervical swabs or positive cultures of vaginal and/or cervical swabs followed by the presence of the increased number of polymorphonuclears in direct microscopic preparation. RESULTS: The results showed that in III trimester of pregnancy vaginal bacterial infection was statistically more common (p = 0.021) in women who had preterm delivery (66.7%) in relation to women who delivered in term (29.9%). In this period of gestation the increased number of polymorphonuclears in DMP of vaginal swabs is more common in the women of the study group (75%) than in the women of the control group (43.3%). Preterm delivery was registered in 16.1% women whose microbiological analyses were done in I trimester, 9.9% women in whom microbiological analyses were done in II trimester and in 15.2% pregnant women microbiologically tested in III trimester. CONCLUSION: Based on the obtained results it could be concluded that bacterial infections of genital tract and period of gestation when infection is diagnosed have influence on reducing perinatal morbidity and mortality caused by preterm delivery.