Escherichia coli is by far the leading cause of community-acquired UTIs. Its emerging antimicrobial resistance, along with the existence multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains is one of the most difficult global healthcare challenges. In Europe, including Serbia, E. coli isolates obtained from patients with acute uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) have increasing antimicrobial resistance, particularly to ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Pivmecillinam, the oral prodrug of the penicillin derivative mecillinam, was introduced in national and international protocols around the globe for UTIs treatment in ambulatory settings after showing high efficiency for uncomplicated low UTIs. During its application in various European countries, mecillinam has shown a satisfactory clinical effect against uropathogenic E. coli. Thus, it is commonly used as the anibiotic of choice for the empirical management of UTIs, mostly due to its low resistance rates and low damaging effects on the gut microbiota as a pro-drug. Research showed that mecillinam exhibits high antimicrobial activity against MDR E. coli strains, such is the case in metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing isolates (both NDM-1 and IMP types) and OXA-48-like-positive strains. Mecillinam is yet to be registered in Serbia, in order to be tested as a potential first-choice antibiotic for UTI caused by E. coli. Thus, we review the current literature data on mecillinam’s antibacterial effect in this particular bacteria.

The “silent pandemic” – a WHO-coined phrase that relates to the rise and spread of antimicrobial resistance is a phenomenon so striking that in spite of living in the most prosperous times, we are threatened to return to the preantibiotic era when even the simplest of interventions and infections were possibly deadly. One of the possible solutions could be the application of natural predators of bacteria – bacteriophage therapy. Discovered over a century ago, phages have been studied extensively and have become irreplaceable tools in laboratory work. The knowledge they helped to generate is still enlarging, and was responsible, at least in part, for creating the whole scientific discipline of Molecular biology. Their application on the other hand has not been as continuous and fruitful. On the contrary, the history of phage therapy is one of rise and fall, enthusiasm and acceptance as well as rebuttal and oblivion, scientific misconceptions and dogmatism, bad corporate investments, politics and ideologies. As today we are equipped with far more knowledge on the biology of phages, bacteria and resistance than early phage enthusiasts, it is justified to attempt phage application once again. Here we elaborate on the early years and very first attempts of phage therapy and the troubles rising from those days as they serve as excellent cornerstones for future endeavors in the field. In parallel, the current state-of-the-art of phage therapy in different parts of the world is also presented.

Viral infections such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Herpes simplex virus (HSV) represent significant complications in patients with haematological malignancies and increase the frequency of morbidity and mortality. These infections represent one of the main factors of unsuccessful treatment; therefore, regular monitoring of active viral infections is necessary. The work aimed to determine the frequency and dynamics of active EBV and HSV infection in patients with haematological malignancies, monitored at the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade over two years. This study included 35 patients treated at Hematology Clinics of the University Clinical Center of Serbia. Patients were monitored during 2020-2021. Ten blood samples were taken from each patient during monitored period. The samples were taken in a time interval between 2 weeks and three months, depending on the arrival of patients at medical controls. The first sample is marked with the first measurement of blood drawn during 2020 for each patient. The second measurement was a second blood sample taken in the previously mentioned time interval, and so on up to the tenth sample marked as the tenth measurement. For the detection of EBV DNA, the “in-house” PCR method was used to detect the EBNA-1 gene. According to the manufacturer’s instructions, the commercial kit Ampli Sens® HSVI, II-FRT was used for HSV DNA detection (InterLabService, Moscow, Russia). The lowest frequency of EBV infection was during the second measurement (8.57%), while the highest was during the eighth and tenth measurements (31.43%). The highest frequency of HSV infection was during the eighth measurement (5.71%), while during the third, fifth and ninth measurements, none of the subjects had positive PCR for HSV DNA. A statistically significant difference was found in the frequency of EBV infection in later measurements compared to earlier measurements (p=0.002). In contrast, this was not the case in the study of HSV frequency infection (p=0.750). This study presents the dynamics of the frequency of active EBV and HSV infection in patients with haematological malignancies in two-year period. The frequency of active EBV infection was significantly higher compared to HSV infection.

Globalization has resulted in an increase in food demand, which requires advancements in farming techniques to meet the demands. Green revolution based agriculture has made our country self-sufficient in food production. However, the excessive use of agrochemicals has led to degradation of soil, water, environment and human health besides, reduction in biodiversity. This necessitates an alternative of agro-chemicals which are environmentally safe and free from pesticide residues. Under such situation, Natural Farming as promoted by Padam Shri Awardee, Sh. Subhash Palekar has been proving as a viable option to address current farmers’ distress, other soil and water issues to sustain farmer’s incomes. Natural farming has inbuilt mechanisms to regenerate soil, reduce water usage, use of local available natural resources and enhance crop diversity to maintain crop quality. Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, HP, India initiated natural farming based planned principles research to establish scientific logics. The farming claims to be environmental-friendly approach than conventional agriculture, capable of attaining sustainable development objectives by using on-farm resources and reduced tillage. Introducing natural production measures to produce chemical free soils towards implementation of more resilient cropping systems through reduction in greenhouse gas emission, restoration of soil fertility and enhanced carbon sequestration. It also holds promise in reducing serious agrarian crises raised due to increase in rural indebtedness as a result of chemical-based farming. This article proposes an ecosystem-mediated farming practices to maintain a balance between social, environmental and economic pillars of sustainability.