№ 6 (2016)

Objective. Determination of the epidemiological features of anthrax in the Altai Territory at the present stage. Materials and methods. The study was based on a retrospective epidemiological analysis of the dynamics and structure of the population incidence of anthrax in the Altai Territory from 1953 to 2015, and cases of anthrax epizootic from 1927 to 2015. Historical data, medical records of hospital patients with anthrax, information materials and data of the Administration of the Federal Service on Surveillance in the Sphere of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare in the Altai Territory, and data of the Veterinary Administrative Board in the Altai Territory were used. Results. 1262 anthrax permanently-unfavorable points were registered in the Altai Territory. Epizootic and epidemiological features of the disease in the Altai region in the period from 1953 to 2015 are described. The clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the anthrax incidence in population of the Altai Territory in 2012 are presented. Conclusion. Altai Territory is the area with pronounced epizootic and epidemiological anthrax ill-being with potential high risk of the disease incidence in humans and farm animals (a large number of permanently-unfavorable points and their high density).

Objective. Molecular epidemiological analysis of cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and determination of risk factors for TB recurrence and exacerbation in patients with multiple admissions to tuberculosis hospitals. Materials and Methods. 73 serial isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from 34 patients with pulmonary TB (10 - with relapse, 24 - with progression) were subjected to genotyping (spoligotyping, MIRU-VNTR- and IS6110-RFLP-typing). Results. The risk of exogenous infection with multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of M. tuberculosis was associated with multiple admissions to TB hospitals [OR = 10.5; 95% CI (1.0-108); p = 0.02]. All cases of relapses and 79.2% of cases of the TB progression were caused by M. tuberculosis Beijing strains. Variability in drug susceptibility, as well as in IS6110-RFLP and MIRU-VNTR profiles of serial isolates of M. tuberculosis Beijing strains (B0, A0, and A10 profiles) and LAM9 (SIT252, and SIT150 spoligotypes),the most common in the Russia, were revealed. The variability of the genotypes of serial isolates of M. tuberculosis from 5 (14.7%) of 34 patients was due to mixed infection and/or exogenous infection (presumably during bronchoscopy) in TB hospitals. The risk factor for TB relapse or progression included treatment discontinuation [OR = 6.8; 95% CI (2.7-16.8); p <0.001]. Conclusion. The results of the genotyping and analysis of the spectrum of drug susceptibility of serial isolates of M. tuberculosis from patients with pulmonary TB allow to identify the risk factors for relapse and exacerbation of disease.

Objective. To evaluate the insight into the spread of HIV in Russia, people’s vulnerability to HIV infection, the individual perception of the risk of contamination and ways of its prevention. To conduct a brief preventive conversation based on results of a survey. Materials and Methods. The evaluation was conducted using an anonymous survey in November and December 2015. Study included 200 adolescents born in the 1999 p. (Group 1) and 79 first year students of the medical college (Group 2). The average age of the respondents of Group 2 was 16.6 years, the proportion of girls - 78.5%. Results. Only 34% of respondents in Group 1 correctly assessed the situation with the spread of HIV infection in the Russian Federation. The proportion of correct answers in Group 2 was 56.9%, which may have been due to medical education. Correct assessment of the situation with the spread of HIV infection did not promote awareness of individual risk and the perception of vulnerability to HIV infection. 32.8% of respondents excluded their risk of becoming infected with HIV, 44.3% of respondents considered risk as minimal and 22.8% - as similar to the most people. 13.3% of respondents in Group 2 gave the answer «I am at higher risk compared to other people», which may be related to perceptions of increased risk of infection when performing professional duties. But in general, respondents in this group had no enough awareness about the potential risk of becoming infected with HIV. Conclusion. The lack of a direct relationship between the level of awareness and the implementation of safer behaviors in terms of HIV infection requires the use of brief preventive conversations for the completion of lack of information and reduction of barrier between knowledge and action.

Objective. Comparative evaluation of the clinical efficacy of antiviral drugs umifenovir and Kagocel in the treatment of complicated acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) in unvaccinated patients. Materials and Methods. The study included 30 hospital patients with complicated acute respiratory viral infections. Patients were randomized into 2 groups: 15patients were assigned to receive umifenovir (Group 1), and 15patients - to receive Kagocel (Group 2). Umifenovir was administered at a dose of 200 mg 4 times a day for 5 days, Kagocel - at a dose of 24 mg 3 times a day for the first 2 days, and then - 12 mg three times a day for 2 days according to the instructions. Conclusion. The comparative evaluation of clinical efficacy and safety of antiviral therapy of ARVI with umifenovir and Kagocel has produced the comparable results.

The paper systematizes electronic resources (official statistics of international organizations, electronic networking resources for collecting operational information and other information materials) which can be sources of information on the current global spread of infectious diseases that require measures for the sanitary protection of the territory of the Russian Federation and that can trigger an emergency situation in the sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population. Numerous internet resources can be subdivided into (1) sources needed for the specialists of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare to ensure sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population and (2) popular sources directly intended for international travelers.

This year marked 95 years since the birth of Irina Nikolaevna Blokhina - a scientist of world-wide reputation, Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Full Member of the Russian Academy of Medical and Technical Sciences, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, laureate of USSR State Prize, Honorary Citizen of Nizhny Novgorod. Irina Nikolaevna was Head of Nizhny Novgorod (Gorky) Scientific and Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology for 44 years. She devoted all her life to medical science by developing priority research directions in the field of biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, biotechnology and molecular biology. The breadth of scientific outlook, a deep and comprehensive erudition allowed I.N. Blokhina to see and effectively solve the most pressing problems both in fundamental science and practical healthcare.