DENTAL CLINICS: A RESERVOIR FOR HEPATITIS C VIRUS.

Nosocomial transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is well established, however the role of dental care in HCV transmission has been speculated but particularly difficult to quantify. This study investigated the potential for nosocomial transmission of HCV in dental clinics in a high HCV prevalence, middle-income country.  Dental health care workers (DHCWs) in 13 clinics in 3 cities were invited to participate. After informed consent was obtained, the DHCWs were asked to provide a blood sample to test for anti-HCV and complete a questionnaire that included questions on risk behaviors. A second sample of dental clinics was recruited to conduct environmental testing for HCV RNA. Among the 244 DHCWs invited to participate in the study, 196 (80.3%) enrolled including 115 doctors, 49 nurses and 32 dental residents. The seroprevalence of anti-HCV among DHCWs was 4%. Of the 46 private dental clinics invited to participate, 37 (80.4%) dental clinics agreed to allow the environmental study. Overall, 23 (62.2%) clinics had HCV RNA detected in at least one location. The most frequently contaminated location was the suction unit with HCV RNA retrieved from 14 (37.8%) clinics, followed by contaminated samples from the general dental room in 9 (24.3%) clinics. Given that HCV RNA can be viable for up to six weeks, without fastidious attention to infection control procedures, patients may be exposed to contaminated dental equipment and nosocomial transmission can occur.

ROLE OF VIRAL PATHOGENS IN INFANTS WITH SYSTEMIC INFECTION AT THE NEWBORN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS IN GEORGIA.

In Georgia, causative agents among infants with systemic infections are generally not identified and "neonatal sepsis" is usually diagnosed and treated without determining the etiology. The objective of this study was to estimate the role of viral pathogens (Herpesviridae and Enteroviruses) among neonates with generalized infections. A cross-sectional study was performed among neonates younger than <8 weeks admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the two largest pediatric hospitals in Tbilisi, Georgia. Laboratory tests were performed by consensus and then by type-specific PCR methods. A total of 187 infants were recruited from the NICUs; most participants (74.9%) were of normal birth weight at admission to the NICU and half (51.3%) were younger than 7 days of age. Almost all babies (91.4%) were treated with a broad-spectrum antibiotic despite a lack of microbe identification. While the overall mortality rate of infants with a systemic infection was 21.9 %, neonatal outcomes were more favorable when the infection was due to enteroviruses (2.9% mortality rate) compared to a herpesvirus infection (16.1% mortality rate). Multivariate analyses identified independent predictors associated with neonatal mortality. These included etiology of infection, APGAR score and the type of delivery. Our investigation suggests that viral pathogens play a substantial role in systemic infections among NICU infants. Utilizing molecular-based testing in these cases could improve both the clinical management and outcomes of neonates with generalized infections.

The role of parvovirus in the etiology of somatic pathology.

The scope of the present research was to study parvovirus circulation in Tbilisi population and its role in etiology of somatic pathologies. Parvovirus circulation in persons with autism and disorder of the nervous system was examined. Blood of 110 patients was examined. Among them 35 were children (up to 15 years old) and 75 adults, mainly with different somatic pathologies such as mineral metabolism disorder, allergic reactions, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy and autism. Almost all the children came from the so called frequently ill category and suffered from disbacteriosis. Among adults, 16 were parents of the ill children, while the rest came with hepatitis, mineral metabolism disorder of different type and psoriasis. Blood serum of 30 adults was taken as an adult control group. Their age varied from 18 to 25 years. 10 children aged 2-15 constituted a children control group. Preventive examination was made and there were practically, absolutely healthy persons. A total of 150 persons were involved in the research. Frequency of parvoviral antibody detection in the ill children and adults is much higher than in healthy individuals. Consequently, positive results for the presence of M and G immunoglobulins in children equals to 54% and 85% respectively. In adults these indicator stand at 24% and 60% respectively. At the same time in 25% and 70% of parents of positive children were found to be positive for M immunoglobulin and G immunoglobulin respectively. Thus our investigation made it clear that parvoviral infection actively circulates in Georgia. The present research did not study manifested parvoviral infection, i.e. 5th disease. If it had than the number of positive results probably would have been much higher. In autistic children presence of parvoviral infection is consistent with the literature data.

32-nucleotide deletion, associated with defence against hiv/aids, is a predominant mutation of CCR5 gene in the population of Georgia.

There is a special interest to investigate genetic peculiarities in the populations with a low HIV seroprevalence. Despite of presence of high-risk conditions for rapid spread of HIV/AIDS epidemics in Georgia, the prevalence of this infection in the country remains very low. We studied polymorphisms of CCR5 gene in Georgians. Blood samples from 190 women randomly selected from the cohort of pregnant women involved in the program of prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission in Georgia have been investigated. Two-step PCR was used to amplify the whole CCR5 genetic sequence. Detection of mutations and polymorphisms was done by dHPLC. All samples showing specific patterns by dHPLC, were sequenced to identify the exact nature of the mutation. It was shown that CCR5-delta32 mutation is a predominant alteration of CCR5 gene among Georgians. All subjects bearing this mutation were heterozygotes. Frequency of delta32 CCR5 allele in the population of Georgia was equal to 5%. Only one case of R223Q mutation and two cases of mutations in the non-coding region of CCR5 gene were also found. Our findings differ from the existing data showing the absence of the CCR5-delta32 mutation among Georgians and provide further support to the hypothesis on a Northeastern European origin of this mutation and North to South gradient of its distribution.

[The frequency of detection of markers of hepatitis virus B infection among the inhabitants of Rustavi, the Georgian SSR]. / Chastota vyiavleniia markerov infitsirovaniia virusom gepatita B sredi zhitelei Rustavi Gruzinskoi SSR.

Blood serum samples from 1,087 patients with acute viral hepatitis were studied. HBsAg was detected in 36.6% of cases. The study of anti-HBc IgM made it possible to diagnose hepatitis B in 6.6% of cases. The study of blood serum samples from 362 donors, 2,356 pregnant women and 163 medical workers in Rustavi for the presence of the markers of hepatitis B infection revealed a wide spread of hepatitis B in Rustavi.