Objective The aim of this study was to correlate different combinations of manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) concentration in drinking water with prevalence of dental caries in both primary and permanent dentition, among school children with similar socio-demographic characteristics. Methods Evros region, in North-Eastern Greece, was divided into four areas, according to combinations of levels of Mn and Fe in drinking water (High Mn-high Fe; High Mn-low Fe; Low Mn-high Fe; Low Mn-low Fe). Children of similar socio-economic background, attending either first or sixth grade (primary or permanent dentition, respectively) of elementary schools, were clinically assessed for caries by three dentists. Caries was defined by the use of dmft/DMFT index. A questionnaire answered by the parents was also analysed. Results 573 children were included. Caries prevalence was high in both age groups (64.2 % with mean dmft 3.3 ± 3.6 in primary and 60.7 % with mean DMFT 2.3 ± 2.5 in permanent dentition, respectively). Residence in a high Mn-low Fe area was associated with a significant OR for caries in both age groups [OR (95 % CIs) for primary and permanent dentition was, respectively, 3.75 (1.68-8.37), p = 0.001 and 3.09 (1.48-6.44), p = 0.003], independently of factors like sugar consumption or brushing frequency. Conclusion Prevalence of caries was high in general, and was associated with the combination of high Mn/low Fe levels in drinking water, independently of various sociodemographic factors.

Objective: To monitor microbes, focusing on drug resistance, on the hands of the personnel of four departments of a tertiary hospital (ICU, neonatal unit, internal medicine ward and surgical ward) and explore differences between departments, professions and genders. Materials and methods: Hand sampling from 125 healthcare employees was conducted followed by isolation, identification and antibiotic resistance profiling of different microbial species. Results: Staphylococcus spp was the most prevalent microbe (76/125, 60.8%), followed by different Gram-negative pathogens (45.6%). ICU employees had a significant probability to have Gram-negative contamination [OR 3.627 (95% CI 1.220-10.782)], independently of gender or profession. Staphylococcus spp presence was associated with working in the internal medicine ward [OR 6.976 (95% CI 1.767-25.540)] and the surgical ward [OR 5.795 (95% CI 1.586-21.178)]. Staphylococcus spp was more prevalent in males vs. females (81.3% vs. 54.9%, p=0.008) and in medical vs. nursing personnel (76.9% vs. 54.8, p=0.019). In the majority of Gram-negative isolates (56.1%), at least one multi-drug resistant (MDR) or extensively drug resistant (XDR) strain was isolated. A statistically significant higher prevalence of XDR Gram-negative microbes was found on the hands of nursing personnel (22.2% vs. 2.3% for medical doctors, p=0.014). Only 2 methicillin resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) out of the 12 Staphylococcus aureus positive samples were identified. Conclusions: Employees in the ICU are more prone to Gram-negative and not to Gram-positive hand contamination. MDR and XDR pathogens are prevalent, and are associated with nursing profession.

Citation: Tsanidou E, Gougoula V, Tselebonis A, Kontogiorgis C, Constantinidis TC, Nena E. Socio-demographic factors affecting initiation and duration of breastfeeding in a culturally diverse area of North Eastern Greece. Folia Med (Plovdiv) 2019;61(4):566-71. AbstractBackground: Breastfeeding is not only important for the bond between the mother and the child but is also associated with many health benefits. Socio-demographic factors have been found to be important for the initiation and longer duration of breastfeeding.Aim: To record the breastfeeding characteristics and to explore possible associations with socio-cultural and demographic factors in a culturally diverse area in Greece. Materials and methods:A questionnaire including information about breastfeeding characteristics, medical history and demographics was completed by parents of children in the primary schools of the area. Results:The study included 700 school-age children (352 boys), mean age 9.4±1.9 years. Breastfeeding was reported in 54.9% of them, with median (IQR) duration of 120 (range 60-360) days. Prevalence of breastfeeding was slightly higher in semi-urban areas, versus rural or urban settlements, but the duration there was significantly lower (p<0.001). Better educated mothers tended to initiate or sustain breastfeeding for a longer period; however, this difference was not statistically significant. Children of the native Muslim minority had been breastfed for a longer time (median duration 360 vs. 120 days, p<0.001), however, no difference was noted in prevalence. Conclusion:Prevalence of breastfeeding in Greece is approximately 55%, similar to previous reports and along with duration is determined by certain socio-cultural factors.

Air contamination in the hospital setting can be a reason for the spread of nosocomial infection among susceptible patients. The aim of this study was to identify bacterial species, and their load and drug resistance, in the air of a tertiary hospital. Air samples were collected on a monthly basis for 12 consecutive months in four different departments of the hospital (Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Internal Medicine Ward (IMW), Surgical Ward (SW), and Neonatal Unit (NU)). In total, 101 samples were collected, out of which 158 Gram-positive (GP) and 44 Gram-negative (GN) strains were isolated. The majority of GP isolates were Staphylococcus spp. (n = 100). The highest total microbial load was reported in the IMW (p = 0.005), while the highest Staphylococcus load was observed in the ICU (p = 0.018). GP bacterial load was higher in autumn, while GN load was higher in spring. Regarding drug resistance, four multi-drug-resistant (MDR) strains and one extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strain were isolated in the ICU, two MDR strains and one XDR strain in the SW, one MDR strain in the IMW and one MDR strain in the NU samples. Air in hospital settings is contaminated with various microbes; some of them are MDR, consisting a potential cause of hospital-acquired infection.

Η παρούσα διατριβή είχε ως στόχο την καταγραφή του ολικού μικροβιακού φορτίου και την ταυτόχρονη μελέτη ευαισθησίας στις αντιμικροβιακές ουσίες των συχνότερων Gram αρνητικών και Gram θετικών μικροοργανισμών που απομονώνονται από το περιβάλλον του νοσοκομείου. Το υλικό της έρευνας αποτέλεσαν καλλιέργειες οι οποίες απομονώθηκαν από τα δείγματα του άψυχου (αέρας, επιφάνειες) και έμψυχου περιβάλλοντος (χέρια του ιατρικού και νοσηλευτικού προσωπικού), σε τέσσερις κλινικές του Πανεπιστημιακού Γενικού Νοσοκομείου Έβρου. Συνολικά, ελήφθησαν 402 δείγματα, 125 δείγματα από το έμψυχο περιβάλλον και 277 από το άψυχο περιβάλλον. Ο έλεγχος ευαισθησίας στις αντιμικροβιακές ουσίες υλοποιήθηκε με δύο μεθόδους: α) με τον αυτοματοποιημένο αναλυτή Vitek 2 (Biomerieux) για την εκτίμηση ελάχιστης ανασταλτικής συγκέντρωσης ΜΙC με τη χρήση ειδικών καρτών και β) με τη μέθοδο E-test. Η στατιστική ανάλυση των αποτελεσμάτων έγινε με τη βοήθεια του στατιστικού πακέτου IBM SPSS v. 17.0.Από το έμψυχο περιβάλλον απομονώθηκαν 94 στελέχη (75,2%), εκ των οποίων τα 37 χαρακτηρίστηκαν πολυανθεκτικά (39,4%). Το ποσοστό αυτό αντιστοιχεί στο 29,6% επί του συνόλου των δειγμάτων του έμψυχου περιβάλλοντος.Από το άψυχο περιβάλλον απομονώθηκαν 106 στελέχη (38,3%) εκ των οποίων τα 24, χαρακτηρίστηκαν πολυανθεκτικά, (22,6%). Το ποσοστό αυτό αντιστοιχεί στο 8,7% επί του συνόλου των δειγμάτων του άψυχου περιβάλλοντοςΗ γενετική ανάλυση των περιβαλλοντικών στελεχών οδήγησε στα εξής συμπεράσματα αναφορικά με τη μοριακή επιδημιολογία τους. Τα επιδημιολογικά στελέχη έχουν το ίδιο γενετικό αποτύπωμα, ενώ τα σποραδικά εμφανιζόμενα και τα μη σχετιζόμενα επιδημιολογικά στελέχη παρουσιάζουν σταθερά γενετική ετερογένεια.