The Link Between HIV Knowledge and Prophylaxis to Health Professionals

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers have a high risk of professional exposure, especially in developing countries. AIM: This paper aims to determine whether there is a link between knowledge and HIV prophylaxis on HIV prevention in Albanian healthcare system employees. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was attended by professionals of the Albanian health care system who also attended second cycle studies at the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) at the University of Medicine, Tirana. The study was conducted through a standard questionnaire with 24 questions, previously created by the Vojvodina Institute of Public Health in Serbia. RESULTS: A group of 219 respondents participated in the study, of which 83.3% were women and 16.7% males. The risk of HIV transmission from syringe injection is > 75%, for 55.9% of the respondents. This result is statistically significant compared to other categories (p < 0.01). There is an increase in awareness of the use of gloves before manipulation and use of syringes, with increased work experience (p = 0.01). The use of specific containers for the elimination of syringes after manipulation is a more common practice by the most experienced professionals at work and results in a significant change (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: This study showed that there is not enough information from health professionals about potentially infectious fluids for HIV transmission. Younger professionals are less informed about HIV transmission and prophylaxis. These data indicate that there is a need for deepening of university curricula about the risks and exposure to biologically infectious fluids

Foreign bodies in the aerodigestive tract among patients frequenting the ENT emergency department in Tirana, Albania

INTRODUCTION: Aspiration of foreign bodies (FBs) is common among children, especially those very young, but it is a phenomenon present among adults as well. Foreign bodies in the aerodigestive tract (airways and/or esophagus) could be rather dangerous, and in some cases, life-threatening. The information about the epidemiology of FB among Albanian patients admitted to ENT emergency department is limited.AIM: The aim of this article is to describe the epidemiology of FBs in the aerodigestive tract among individuals showing up for care at the ENT emergency department during January–December 2020 in Tirana, Albania.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving 272 individuals who showed up at the ENT emergency department during January–December 2020 in Tirana, Albania, with signs and symptoms of FB in the aerodigestive tract, filtered by thorough examination of clinical records. We reported the rate of confirmed aerodigestive tract FB diagnosis among all participants, the localization of the FB, the age-and-gender distribution of individuals with confirmed FBs in the esophagus and the airways.RESULTS: Among all suspected aerodigestive tract FB cases, 45.6% had a definitive aerodigestive tract FB diagnosis. Among confirmed cases, the localization of FB in the esophagus and airways was 71% and 29%, respectively. The most affected age group were children under 10 years old for both airway and esophagus FB. More males than females had a diagnosis of airway or esophagus FB. High proportions of elderly people (aged 60+) were also affected by both airway and esophagus FB.CONCLUSION: The epidemiology of aerodigestive FB in Albania resembles that of other countries. Because the highest-risk group comprises young children, it is necessary to make some changes with regards to child nutrition, and objects and toys more likely for children to come into contact with. Parents’ vigilance is necessary to avoid aerodigestive tract FB among young children

A Study on the Epidemiology and Aetiology of Acute Gastroenteritis in Adult Patients Presenting at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Tirana, Albania

Background: Acute gastroenteritis remains a common cause of hospital emergency room visits in Albania. However, the aetiology of severe gastroenteritis leading to hospitalization in adults frequently remains unclear. Aims: Our objective was to study the epidemiology and causes of community-acquired, acute gastroenteritis in adult patients presenting to hospital. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Methods: A prospective study was conducted from January 2010 to January 2012, among patients ≥15 years old with community-acquired gastroenteritis presenting to the emergency room of the University Hospital “Mother Theresa” in Tirana, Albania. Stool samples and rectal swabs were collected from the patients for microbiological testing. Results: The median age of the study patients was 33 (15-88) years and 577 (58%) were females. The median age of males was 35 (15-87) years. The vast majority of cases occurred in urban area (849, 85%), p<0.01. Patients were admitted throughout the year with peak admissions for patients infected by bacterial pathogens in summer and those affected by viral pathogens in autumn. A total of 917 (91.7%) patients underwent a laboratory examination. The overall isolation rate was 51%. Bacterial pathogens were found in 29%, viral pathogens in 19% and protozoal pathogens in 2.5% of patients. No aetiological agent or other cause of acute diarrhoea was found in 449 (49%) patients. Twenty-nine (3.2%) patients were hospitalized. Conclusion: Despite extensive laboratory investigations, enteropathogens were detected in only 51% of adult patients who presented to the hospital ER with acute gastroenteritis. Viral infections ranked as the second most common cause of gastroenteritis in adults