Human resources reform is the main driver of improvement and change in healthcare organizations and the healthcare system in general. Thorough transformation of management and improvements in the structure and quality of employee performance are necessary for progress in the healthcare sector. This need for change stems from an increasing awareness of the importance of strategic human resources planning in healthcare, as well as the necessity of providing better quality services despite limited financial resources. Leadership skills are recognized as key to success in healthcare and can be adopted through targeted work and development, which benefits not only institutions but also individuals on a personal level. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the importance of capacity building in leadership and management, proposing a model that balances between four interconnected segments. This model should be adapted to local specificities, so that it would be as efficient as possible. The specific objective of this research was to analyse the leadership qualities of heads of surgical clinics of the University Clinical Centre in Niš (UCC Niš), based on employee ratings, and to explore how these qualities affect the key indicators of success of these clinics. The research consisted of two parts: qualitative, which included an analysis of the tertiary level healthcare institution during the period from June 2010 to March 2017, and quantitative, in which data on the activities and the quality of operation of surgical clinics were collected and analysed. Research results indicate a generally high leadership abilities rating among surgical clinic managers, noting that building trust among employees has been identified as an area with room for improvement. The highest ratings were assigned to managers' qualities related to goal-orientation and perseverance in their achievement, regardless of the circumstances. The study also shows that leadership qualities have a significant impact on key performance indicators of surgical clinics, confirming the importance of developing effective leadership in the healthcare sector.

Background: Hospital-associated infections (HAIs) caused by multidrug-resistant organisms represent a global threat to public health. Despite various strategies, compliance with effective hand hygiene (HH) remains inconsistent. This study examines risk factors influencing hand hygiene compliance (HHC) in surgical clinics of the University Clinical Center Nis, Serbia. Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted from August 16 to September 16, 2023, among healthcare professionals in surgical, urgent care, and anesthesia units at UCC Nis. The representative sample size was calculated using G*Power 3.1. Effect sizes were assessed with Hedges’ g, Glass’s Δ, η ² , and R ² for correlations. Regression analyses were performed to model HHC scores. Results: Participants demonstrated relatively good HH knowledge. HHC scores varied most across organizational units, with large effect sizes for subscales (η ² = 0.13-0.2) and intermediate effect for the total score. Total HHC did not significantly correlate with job satisfaction ( r = -0.023) or Leadership trait score ( r = 0.041), though some subscales showed low but significant correlations. Job satisfaction and Leadership traits were moderately correlated (R = -0.579, p < 0.001). Of seven regression models, only the model predicting “transmission of microorganisms to healthcare workers” achieved R ² > 0.3 (intermediate effect). Conclusions: HH knowledge and practices in surgical settings appear to depend more on the work environment, particularly leadership, than on individual characteristics. Sustained improvements in hand hygiene behavior require comprehensive, tailored educational programs and robust promotional campaigns, while strengthening managerial leadership skills emerges as a critical, evidence-based strategy. Job satisfaction showed only limited influence.

Background/Objectives: Seasonal variations in mortality rates are well-documented, particularly during the winter months when mortality typically increases. This rise in mortality, ranging from 5% to 25%, is often associated with chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Understanding these seasonal fluctuations is essential for guiding public health interventions. This study analyzes mortality rates and excess mortality in Belgrade from March 2020 to May 2023, focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on overall mortality trends. The primary objective of this study is to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality rates in Belgrade during the study period. The first secondary objective is to evaluate seasonal variations in mortality, with a focus on the 10.57% overall increase in mortality, and to highlight the 34.23% rise in winter mortality recorded in 2020. The second secondary objective is to assess the effectiveness of public health measures in mitigating excess mortality during this period. Methods: A descriptive epidemiological approach was used to analyze monthly mortality data from the City Bureau of Statistics. Mortality rates were standardized using direct standardization and compared winter (December-February) and non-winter (March-November) periods. Trends, percentage increases, and age-specific mortality were analyzed based on the 2011 census methodology. Results: Mortality rates in Belgrade ranged from 1115.67 to 1267.19 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, with an average of 1205.62. Standardized mortality rates ranged from 936.49 to 1111.67, averaging 1021.64. The winter months showed higher mortality, averaging 1716 deaths per 100,000, compared to 1558 in the non-winter months. Conclusions: The winter months exhibited significantly higher mortality rates, likely exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Targeted public health policies and interventions are necessary to reduce seasonal mortality risks during future public health crises.

Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), commonly defined as ≥3 symptomatic episodes per year, affects an estimated 138 million women worldwide. This structured narrative review (PubMed/MEDLINE and open-indexed sources, January 2020–July 2026, as well as selected pre-2020 landmark studies) synthesizes epidemiological and metabolic risk factors (including SGLT2-inhibitor-associated susceptibility), host immunogenetic and vaginal microbiome mechanisms, emerging preventive pharmacotherapies, and patient-reported outcomes within a unified clinical framework. RVVC arises from interacting host, microbial, metabolic, behavioral, and iatrogenic domains—diabetes-related hyperglycemia, innate immune polymorphisms (MBL2, TLR2), altered bacterial–fungal vaginal communities, and non-albicans Candida in difficult-to-treat cases. Fluconazole maintenance remains a guideline-supported suppressive option but relapse after discontinuation is common; oteseconazole and ibrexafungerp expand prevention choices, while probiotics show inconsistent, low-certainty benefit. RVVC consistently impairs health-related quality of life, sexual function, and mental health and imposes substantial economic burden; regional data from Southeastern Europe underscore diagnostic and access gaps. We propose a multifactorial host–pathogen–microbiome model that favors individualized, diagnosis-driven management and routine incorporation of validated patient-reported outcomes. Research priorities include harmonized case definitions, head-to-head trials of new agents, validated quality-of-life instruments, longer post-treatment follow-up, and real-world cost-effectiveness evaluations. Implementation research, equitable access strategies, clinician education, and national health policy are essential to translate evidence into improved patient outcomes globally.

The application of the ecologically oriented concept of blue-green infrastructure in urban areas has numerous benefits at different spatial and functional levels of the city, the roof one being the improvement of public health. However, this aspect of the concept application carries numerous risks with it. As the risks, as well as the application of the concept itself, have not been sufficiently studied in Serbia, nor seen through urban planning and engineering practice, the paper aim is to review and systematize the modalities and possibilities of applying the concept of blue-green infrastructure by reviewing the reference literature and analyzing selected examples in the function of improvement, as well as in terms of risk to public health.

Introduction: Continuous prospective surveillance is considered the reference method for monitoring healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), but it requires substantial personnel and organizational resources. Point prevalence surveys provide a simpler alternative, although they primarily measure prevalence rather than incidence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of the estimation of cumulative incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) from a point prevalence survey (PPS) across different hospital wards. Methods: A HAI PPS was conducted between 14 November and 2 December 2022, at the University Clinical Center Nis, Serbia, using the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) protocol. Data from 774 patients were analyzed. Prevalence data from the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) and the Orthopedics and Traumatology department were converted into estimated cumulative incidence using the Rhame and Sudderth formula. These estimates were compared against the actual 2022 cumulative incidence obtained via continuous surveillance. Results: The overall HAI prevalence was 3.6% (28 HAIs among 27 patients; 95% CI: 2.5–5.2%). In the SICU, the formula-derived calculated incidence (5.3 per 100 admissions) demonstrated an excellent fit with the observed continuous surveillance incidence (5.54 per 100 admissions; ratio: 0.96), falling well within its 95% CI (4.24–7.22%). Conversely, in the Orthopedics department, the formula significantly overestimated the true incidence by a factor of 10.7 (2.6 vs. 0.24 per 100 admissions), lying far above the upper limit of the observed 95% CI (0.09–0.62%). Conclusions: Converting prevalence data into cumulative incidence estimates is an accurate tool for estimating HAI incidence in stable, high-risk environments like intensive care units. However, it should be applied with extreme caution in low-prevalence specialty wards, where small sample sizes and individual outliers can lead to profound misestimation.