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Background: Campylobacter infections are typically self-limited, but in cases with severe enteritis, immuno-compromised system and bacteremia, an appropriate antimicrobial treatment is demanding. Our study aim was to determine the isolation rate of Campylobacter among patients with acute enteritis in the capital of North Macedonia and its antimicrobial susceptibility. Material and methods: A total number of 3820 patients clinically diagnosed as acute enteritis, were included in the study. Stool samples were collected and Campylobacter was isolated and identified by classical microbiological methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility of all isolates to Ceftriaxone, Amoxicillin-clavulonic acid, Erythromycin, Ciprofloxacin, Tetracycline and Gentamicin was determined by disc-diffusion technique. Additionally, minimal inhibitory concentrations of all Campylobacter isolates against erythromycin, ciprofloxacin and tetracycline were determined by Epsilon gradient tests. Results: Campylobacter species was isolated in 97 patients. Although the mean isolation rate of Campylobacter spp. during the whole study period was 2.53%, a statistically significant increase was detected in 2016 and 2017, in comparison with the data from previous four years of the study. The isolation rate of Campylobacter spp. didn’t reveal statistically significant difference between males and females (p > 0.05). 46.4 % of patients with Campylobacter enteritis were children at the age under 15 years. Forty-three C. jejuni isolates were susceptible to all six antibiotics, but the remaining 44 isolates revealed resistance to at least one antibiotic. C. coli isolates were resistant to 3 antibiotics simultaneously. Two C. coli isolates only, were susceptible to all 6 antibiotics. 40.90% of C. jejuni and 50% of C. coli isolates were resistant to beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines, simultaneously. Conclusion: The increase of the isolation rate of Campylobacter from patients with acute enteritis indicates the need for permanent isolation and identification of Campylobacter from every clinically diagnosed patient, as acute enteritis. Erythromicin is the most effective antibiotic for treatment of Campylobacter enteritis in our patients. The high level of Campylobacter resistance to beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines requires more rational approach in the treatment of Campylobacter enteritis

Background: Obesity is the most common chronic metabolic disease in children and adolescents. It has reached epidemic ranges and is a significant global problem. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the possible metabolic disturbances in children and adolescents with obesity and severe obesity. Subjects and methods: This cross-sectional study included 158 (82 boys, 76 girls) obese children and adolescents between ages of 0 and 17years (10.43 ± 3.11 years). The obesity was defined according to the sex- and age-specific growth charts proposed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as BMI ≥ 95th percentile. Severe obesity was classified as 120% of the 95th percentile for age and sex. Study participants underwent medical assessment and analysis of: ALT, AST, fasting serum triglycerides, total serum cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose and plasma glucose from oral glucose tolerance test. Results: The majority of study participants were severely obese (69.92%). The highest distribution of abnormal biochemical results was seen in elevated ALT (53.91%) followed by elevated triglycerides (34.75%). The prevalence of abnormal total cholesterol level was significantly higher (p=0.04) in the group of obese children compared to the severely obese children. The levels of total cholesterol were also statistically higher in the group of adolescents compared to preadolescents (p=0.02). An important number of obese patients (2.5%) and even higher number of severely obese patients (5.26%) had carbohydrate intolerance. Conclusion: There was a significant elevation of ALT, total serum cholesterol and triglycerides in all study participants. High serum lipids and high hepatic enzymes (as introduction in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) are alarming. Strikingly, there was carbohydrate intolerance in an important number of patients. Treatment and education of patients and parents is mandatory. Preventive measures in the society concerning childhood obesity are necessary.