title: THE SOURCE OF INFECTION AND THE MOST FREQUENT CAUSES OF REACTIVE ARTHRITIS IN KOSOVO.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reactive arthritis is an autoimmune condition which emerges as a counteraction towards an infection which has a focus elsewhere in the body. The purpose of this study is isolation of causative agents of reactive arthritis and ascertains the source of infection. The study has been carried out in the Rheumatology Clinic in Prishtina and specialized ambulance O.S. "Vendenisi-AL" in Besiana, whereas isolation of causative agents has been carried out in the National Institute for Public Health (NIPH). The study has prospective, comparative and analytical feature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 100 patients, 66% were males and 34% females. Among males we have noticed domination of post-urethritis and post-streptococcic reactive arthritis, whereas among females dominates reactive arthritis of enteral etiology. The study concludes that: urogenital tract was the source of infection with 66% of cases, nasopharyngeal tract with 19% of cases, and enteral tract with 15% of cases respectively. Predominantly presents bacteria are E. Coli with 21%, Staphylococcus aureus with 20%, Streptococcus B. hem. gr. A with 16% of cases respectively and other species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  frequency of arthritis with urogenital etiology was 2:1 in favor of males, with nasopharyngeal etiology 3:1 in favor of males, whereas in arthritis with enteral etiology we have noticed a slight dominance in favor of females.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Clinic, Clinical and University Center of Kosova, Prishtina, Kosova.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lahu
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Clinic, Clinical and University Center of Kosova, Prishtina, Kosova.
authors.forename: Ismet H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Bajraktari
authors.affiliation: Specialized ambulance for Internal Medicine and Rheumatology "Vendenisi-AL", Besiana, Kosova.
authors.forename: Shqipdonë
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lahu
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Clinic, Clinical and University Center of Kosova, Prishtina, Kosova.
authors.forename: Valton
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Saiti
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Clinic, Clinical and University Center of Kosova, Prishtina, Kosova.
authors.forename: Avni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kryeziu
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Clinic, Clinical and University Center of Kosova, Prishtina, Kosova.
authors.forename: Fadil
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sherifi
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Clinic, Clinical and University Center of Kosova, Prishtina, Kosova.
authors.forename: Bastri
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Durmishi
keywords: Reactive arthritis; bacterial causative agents; source of infection