MONITORING OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN THE NIŠAVA AND TOPLICA DISTRICTS DURING THE PERIOD FROM 2009 TO 2013

Tracking the trend of communicable diseases represents an organized gathering of information regarding the trend of infectious diseases that may pose a potential risk to public health. Monitoring of communicable diseases is regulated by the Infectious Disease Law. The aim of our study was to analyze morbidity from infectious diseases in the Nisava and Toplica districts and the state of immunization during the period from 2009 to 2013. Operational records on infectious diseases in the Nisava and Toplica district were done by the Center for Prevention and Disease Control within the Public Health Institute Nis. A statistically significant increase in mortality from infectious diseases was observed during the studied period (χ=62.08, p <0.001). The rate of the overall morbidity from infectious diseases varied during the period, but the trend of significant changes has not been confirmed. The dominant position in the structure of overall morbidity from infectious and parasitic diseases belongs to droplet infectious diseases. Reports on performed revaccinations against measles, mumps and rubella indicate that weak coverage was present in 2012 (88.9%) and 2013 (86.1%). Staphylococcus aureus (Staph. aureus), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (20.1%) and Acinetobacter species (Acinetobacter spp) (15.6%) are recognized as the most common cause of nosocomial infections. Based on all of the above, the epidemiological situation in the Nisava and Toplica districts can be assessed as unsafe. Acta Medica Medianae 2015;54(4):12-17.