Introduction: Pneumonia is one of the most important health problems due to its high incidence. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp increase in the number of pneumonia cases among adults.

Objective: To study pneumonia incidence rates among different age groups of the population and to establish their main trends in St. Petersburg.

Materials and methods: We used data contained in the Federal Statistical Observation Form No. 12, “Information on the number of diseases registered in patients living in the service area of a health facility” for 2011–2022 to calculate pneumonia incidence rates and establish the statistical significance of differences between the indicators, to do a retrospective epidemiological analysis with an assessment of long-term dynamics among the general population and in different age groups using methods of descriptive and inductive parametric statistics.

Results: Adults prevailed in the age structure of pneumonia cases (85.3 %), among whom the proportion of elderly people was higher (45.8 %). In 2011–2019, pneumonia incidence in the general population of St. Petersburg dropped by 31.3 %. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it demonstrated a 3.3-fold increase from 291.9 to 976.0 per 100,000 population (t = 107.0, p < 0.05). Pneumonia incidence among elderly people was statistically higher (1,578.8 per 100,000 population, p < 0.05). A decline in pneumonia rates in the pediatric population (ages 0–17) was observed in 2020–2021. In 2022, a decrease in pneumonia incidence rates was registered among both the general and adult population of St. Petersburg by 61.5 % and 64.9 %, respectively.

Conclusions: Monitoring of long-term changes in pneumonia incidence in St. Petersburg showed a decrease in its rates in 2011–2019 with a subsequent marked increase, especially among elderly people. This population group requires special attention when implementing management decisions in healthcare at the regional level.

Introduction: Currently, about 3,000 foreign students study at I.N. Ulyanov Chuvash State University. Globalization of education involves Russian universities into a common global educational space and makes higher education more accessible to foreigners. However, moving to another country creates a stress problem, which affects the quality of life and health of migrant students.

Objective: To study the quality of life of Indian medical students receiving education in the Chuvash Republic.

Materials and methods: A continuous sample of Indian first and fifth year students of the Medical Faculty was examined in June 2023, out of examination sessions. For a subjective assessment of the quality of life, the brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL–BREF) was used.

Results: We observed no significant differences in satisfaction with physical and psychological well-being among the first and fifth year students. The calculated indicator was 66.2 % (95 % CI: 63.5–68.9) for the first-year students and 66.7 % (95 % CI: 59.5–73.9) for the fifth-year students. Statistical differences were established in the analysis of answers concerning self-perception: the level of satisfaction was 66.3 % (95 % CI: 63.2–69.4) vs 47 % (95 % CI: 41.0–49.0) respectively, in the groups of first- and fifth-year students. The final indicator of satisfaction with the sphere of microsocial support was 62.5 % (95 % CI: 58.7–66.3) among the first–year and 61.5 % (95 % CI: 54.0–69.0) among the fifth-year students. Satisfaction with the sphere of social well-being was 63.0 % (95 % CI: 60.1–65.9) and 65.1 % (95 % CI: 58.0–72.2) in the groups of first- and fifth-year students, respectively.

Conclusions: Self-rated quality of life of the first-year medical students is poorer than that of the fifth-year students, which is mainly attributed to low satisfaction with social well-being factors.

Introduction: The atmosphere of Novosibirsk is characterized by increased levels of suspended particles, a significant part of which are bioaerosols. The latter include bacteria and fungi that can induce infectious diseases, allergies, and other negative responses in the population. Yet, the microbiota of ambient air of Novosibirsk and the region is poorly studied.

Objective: To determine the concentration and composition of microorganisms in atmospheric aerosols of Novosibirsk and the region isolated in spring/summer 2023 and to test the microbial isolates for pathogenicity.

Materials and methods: To isolate microorganisms from ambient aerosols, air was filtered applying Sartorius reinforced Teflon membrane filters and Hopar compressors. Their desorption from the filters was carried out by shaking in a physiological solution on a rocker and vortex followed by sowing the resulting suspensions onto nutrient media. We determined pathogenic signs by the presence of aggression enzymes and sensitivity of microbial isolates to antibiotics by the disk diffusion method. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was performed by Sanger method; full genome sequencing was performed using the NextSeq 550 system.

Results: During the study of the microbiota of atmospheric aerosols in Novosibirsk and the region in spring/summer 2023, fungi, spore-forming and non-spore-forming bacteria, both saprotrophic and pathogenic, were isolated with concentrations in the aerosol ranging from 100 to 8×10³ CFU/m³, including multiple drug resistant ones. Fungi were generally represented by opportunistic and allergenic species of the genera Aspergillus, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Aureobasidium, and Penicillium, while bacteria – by a large variety of spore-forming and non-spore-forming bacterial species. Based on the results of analyzing phenotypic traits and the 16S rRNA gene sequencing, 119 bacterial isolates were identified. Full genome sequencing analysis and pathogenicity testing by secretion of catalase, hemolysins, lecithinase, lipase, plasma coagulase, alkaline phosphatase, gelatinase were performed for 49 of them along with testing for antibiotic resistance. We identified twenty-nine strains belonging to B. safensis, B. cereus, P. megaterium, B. mycoides, P. agglomerans, S. equorum, A. lwoffii, and a number of others with 5 to 7 positive reactions out of 9 in pathogenicity testing, capable of causing infectious diseases. Eleven strains showed resistance to 4 to 7 antibiotics, enabling their classification as multidrug-resistant.

Conclusions: Detection of fungi and bacteria, which are among the most dangerous pathogens with multiple antimicrobial resistance, prove the necessity of constant control of the composition of bioaerosols in the urban environment.

Introduction: Failure to comply with sanitary and epidemiological requirements poses risks of harm to consumer health and damage to business entities, which reduction necessitates the search for effective preventive measures.

Objective: To analyze the potential economic damage to consumers and business entities related to circulation of food products and to consider ways to reduce it.

Materials and methods: We have analyzed data collected by the Sverdlovsk Regional Rospotrebnadzor Office on violations of mandatory legal requirements by business entities and administrative fines imposed within inspections; the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Sverdlovsk Region on laboratory test results and customer complaints; the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) on the prices of food products by groups; the Regional Operator for Municipal Solid Waste Management on the cost of disposal of a ton of withdrawn non-conforming products, and the Yekaterinburg Medical Research Center for Prophylaxis and Health Protection in Industrial Workers on the results of audits and questionnaire-based surveys of food enterprises for the years 2015–2019 and 2022 using Microsoft Excel tools and the Statistica 10 software.

Results: The annual economic damage from the circulation of non-conforming products for food retailers averaged 73,893.5 thousand rubles. We observed a 1.5-fold increase in the number of customers’ product quality complaints. The structure of damages shows an increase in disposal costs and those related to customer complaints. At the same time, decreasing administrative fines undermine motivation of businesses to comply with mandatory sanitary and epidemiological regulations. Large and small retailers lose on average 2,630.2 and 16.2 thousand rubles per enterprise per year, respectively. An integrated approach to carrying out preventive measures using theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in managing the quality and safety of products has been shown to reduce the number of violations of sanitary and epidemiological requirements in more than 40  % of enterprises, that of complaints – in 20  % of the companies, and general expenditures on withdrawal and disposal of non-conforming and dangerous products.

Conclusions: After supervisory activities have been cut down, the total potential damage to business entities is largely attributed to customer complaints and disposal of non-conforming products. Large retailers selling dairy, meet, and fish products, fruit and vegetables are at higher risk of economic damages. Raising awareness of the total economic damage among business entities when carrying out preventive measures can be considered as an incentive to comply with mandatory quality requirements.

Introduction: The sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population is mainly determined by food quality. The World Health Organization is alarmed by the increasing widespread use of antibiotics in animal, poultry, and fish production.

The number of drugs used in agriculture is almost twice as high as the number of those used to treat humans.

Objective: To establish antibiotic resistance of microorganisms isolated from food products.

Materials and methods: Bacteria isolated from 261 samples of food products (eggs, meat and dairy products) on the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan in 2022 were used as materials for the study. Microorganisms (n = 138) were isolated and identified by the bacteriological method using differential diagnostic media. The phenotypic sensitivity of bacteria to nine antimicrobials was determined by the disc diffusion method (DDM). The statistical significance of the results was assessed by calculating the arithmetic mean (M) and standard error of the mean (m) in Microsoft Excel (2010).

Results: A total of 138 Enterobacterales (52.2 %) and Staphylococcus (47.8 %) bacteria were tested. Analysis of the phenotypic profile of antibiotic sensitivity of cultures in the genus Staphylococcus showed that most of them were resistant to kanamycin and rifampicin (66.7 %); 54.6 % and 45.5 % were resistant to ceftriaxone and lincomycin, respectively. About 30 % of the staphylococci were resistant to erythromycin, tobramycin, levofloxacin, and gentamicin, while the share of staphylococci resistant to ciprofloxacin was the smallest (15.2 %). Enterobacteria showed high resistance to kanamycin (94.5 %), more than 61.2 % of cultures were resistant to tobramycin; 41.7 % and 33.4 % of cultures were resistant to ceftriaxone and gentamicin.

Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate the importance of continuous surveillance over the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food products.

Introduction: The relevance of the study is attributed to the lack of knowledge of the mechanisms of development and specifics of the clinical picture of occupational allergic diseases.

Objective: To establish the levels of essential trace elements in biological substrates of patients with occupational allergies.

Materials and methods: In 2014–2018, we analyzed zinc and copper levels in urine, blood serum, and lymphocytes of patients with occupational allergic skin and respiratory diseases by the atomic absorption method. Relative risk was calculated using a four-field contingency table.

Results: In patients with work-related allergic contact dermatitis and bronchial asthma, zinc and copper concentrations in blood serum increased while urinary excretion of these elements decreased. Quantitative patterns of the concentrations of trace elements in body fluids of the patients with skin and respiratory allergies were unidirectional compared to the reference group. Relative risk values showed that lower levels of copper in urine and zinc in blood serum and lymphocytes, as well as higher serum copper indicated the risk of trace element imbalance in the body.

Conclusion: The risk of trace element imbalance due to occupational allergic diseases is associated with impaired copper and zinc balance. Our findings prove that the levels of microelements are additional factors that aggravate the course of occupational allergic disorders.

Introduction: Safe handling and disposal of medical waste are important aspects of ensuring epidemiological safety of medical activities.

Objective: To analyze performance of republican health facilities in rendering basic services for hazardous infectious and highly infectious waste management.

Materials and methods: This work is a part of a study of basic water, sanitation, and hygiene services rendered. The materials covered information about medical waste handling and management in 350 health facilities in terms of epidemiological safety. Data were collected from November 2020 to January 2021 using a checklist.

Results: In most healthcare facilities (56 %), medical wastes, both infectious and highly infectious, are properly separated into three containers: emergency, infectious, and non-infectious wastes. The most common problems observed were related to labeling or color, and compatibility, with the type of waste in the bins. Health facilities still use open burning or other forms of hazardous disposal (24 %). The process of disposal of hazardous and infectious wastes in healthcare facilities shows that safe waste handling is not ensured by the management. Provision of basic waste management services in the coverage areas is at a low level (in the Districts of Republican Subordination/Dushanbe – 35.8 %, in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region,  Sughd and Khatlon Regions – 11.1 %, 43.3 %, and 36.4 %, respectively), which requires making urgent decisions and establishing procedures for the safe disposal of sharps and infectious wastes.

Conclusion: The study results revealed significant shortcomings and unsafe practices, as well as deviations from the basic level that ensures epidemiological safety in health facilities and protects health of patients and medical personnel.

Introduction: Tick-borne infections (TBI) require special attention of health professionals owing to their high epidemic significance. High rates of tick bite visits are registered in Russia while the incidence rates of tick-borne diseases range dramatically across different regions of the country.

Objective: To describe several features of epidemiological manifestations of tick-borne infections in the Amur Region.

Materials and methods: The analysis of TBI incidence rates registered in the population of the Amur Region by disease, age, sex, and administrative area was based on data of statistical observation forms No. 1, 2 “Information about infectious and parasitic diseases” and annual state reports on sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population of the Amur Region for the years 2014 to 2023. Annual rates of tick bite visits and frequency of pathogen detection in the removed ticks were calculated. Statistical data analysis was carried out in Excel 2013.

Results: Epidemiological analysis revealed a trend towards a decrease in TBI incidence from 4.81 %000 in 2014 to 0.26 %000 in 2021; predominance of tick-borne rickettsiosis (56.77 %; 95 % CI: 48.98–64.57 %) in the structure of long-term incidence of the regional population; registration of most disease cases in steppe landscape zones (57.42 %; 95 % CI: 48.38–66.46 %) and among the adult population (85.81 %; 95 % CI: 80.32–91.30 %); a statistical correlation between tick bite visits and TBI prevalence (r = 0.64) and ixodid tick-borne borreliosis (r = 0.82), as well as the correlation between the incidence of ixodid tick-borne borreliosis and the frequency of detecting borrelia in ticks removed from patients (r = 0.677).

Conclusion: Further development of the TBI situation in the Amur Region will be defined by changes in forest cover area related to both anthropogenic transformations and natural emergencies.