Background: Acquisition of Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) in intensive care units (ICUs) predispose patients to higher mortality rates and additional adverse events. Serbian adult ICUs are rarely investigated for HAIs. The aim of this study was to look into HAIs in an adult ICU and identify risk factors for acquisition of HAIs and mortality. Methods: This retrospective study included 355 patients hospitalized over a 2-year period. Patient characteristics, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and risk factors of acquisition and predictors of mortality in patients who had a HAI were examined. Results: HAIs were diagnosed in 32.7% of patients. Resistance rates > 50% were observed in all antimicrobials except for tigecycline (14%), colistin (9%), and linezolid (0%). Predictors of HAI acquisition were underlying viral CNS infections and invasive devices-urinary and central venous catheters, and nasogastric tubes. Diabetes mellitus and intubation (odds ratio 2.5 and 6.7, P = .042 and <.001) were identified as predictors for increased mortality in patients who had a HAI. Conclusions: Prevalence of HAIs and resistance rates are high compared to ICUs in other European countries. Risk factors for both acquisition of HAI and mortality were identified. Large-scale studies are necessary to look at HAIs in adult ICUs in Serbia.

BackgroundMedical statistics has become important and relevant for future doctors, enabling them to practice evidence based medicine. Recent studies report that students’ attitudes towards statistics play an important role in their statistics achievements. The aim of the study was to test the psychometric properties of the Serbian version of the Survey of Attitudes Towards Statistics (SATS) in order to acquire a valid instrument to measure attitudes inside the Serbian educational context.MethodsThe validation study was performed on a cohort of 417 medical students who were enrolled in an obligatory introductory statistics course. The SATS adaptation was based on an internationally accepted methodology for translation and cultural adaptation. Psychometric properties of the Serbian version of the SATS were analyzed through the examination of factorial structure and internal consistency.ResultsMost medical students held positive attitudes towards statistics. The average total SATS score was above neutral (4.3±0.8), and varied from 1.9 to 6.2. Confirmatory factor analysis validated the six-factor structure of the questionnaire (Affect, Cognitive Competence, Value, Difficulty, Interest and Effort). Values for fit indices TLI (0.940) and CFI (0.961) were above the cut-off of ≥0.90. The RMSEA value of 0.064 (0.051–0.078) was below the suggested value of ≤0.08. Cronbach’s alpha of the entire scale was 0.90, indicating scale reliability. In a multivariate regression model, self-rating of ability in mathematics and current grade point average were significantly associated with the total SATS score after adjusting for age and gender.ConclusionPresent study provided the evidence for the appropriate metric properties of the Serbian version of SATS. Confirmatory factor analysis validated the six-factor structure of the scale. The SATS might be reliable and a valid instrument for identifying medical students’ attitudes towards statistics in the Serbian educational context.

Decreased muscle strength is not only a risk factor for hip fracture in older patients, but plays a role in recovery of physical function. Our aim was to assess the role of grip strength measured early after hip fracture, and classified according to the EWGSOP2 criteria in predicting short- and long-term functional recovery. One hundred ninety-one patients with acute hip fracture consecutively admitted to an orthopaedic hospital have been selected. A multidimensional geriatric assessment evaluating sociodemographic variables, cognitive status, functional status and quality of life prior to fracture, as well as perioperative variables were performed. Follow-ups at 3 and 6 months after surgery were carried out to evaluate functional recovery. Multivariate regression models were used to assess the predictive role of handgrip strength. The mean age of the participants was 80.3 ±6.8 years. Thirty-five percent of our patients with clinically relevant hand grip strength weakness were significantly older, more often female, had a lower BMI, and were of worse physical health. They also had a lower cognitive level, lower Barthel index, and lower EQ5D scores before fracture. Multivariate regression analysis adjusted for age and gender revealed that hand grip weakness was an independent predictor of worse functional outcome at 3 and 6 months after hip fracture for both genders and in all age populations. Our study supports the prognostic role of hand grip strength assessed at hospital admission in patients with hip fracture. Thus, clinicians should be encouraged to include hand grip assessment in their evaluation of hip fracture patients in the acute setting in order to optimize treatment of high-risk individuals.

Our study demonstrates that AA influences QoL, but to a lesser degree than observed for psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and onychomycosis.

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