Cognitive competency of Filipino nurses working in some hospitals of Taif city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Nurses give care to diverse client population, which necessitates that, they should be culturally competent. Competence in cross cultural practice is a process requiring experience and continued interest in learning and in sharpening cultural assessment and communication skills. Toinvestigate the cognitive competency of Filipino nurses working in five hospitals at Taif City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study evaluates strength of self-efficacy perception of thenurses, on the cognitive constructs and the difference among the strength of self-efficacy perception of the nurses when grouped according to their demographic profiles. Transcultural Self-Efficacy Tool [TSET] Kit was used to measure the cognitive competency of three hundred and seven respondent Filipino nurses working in five hospitals of Taif City. The strength of self -efficacy perceptions of the nurses within the cognitive constructs shows that the five highest means score dealt with "safety", "hygiene", "Informed consent", "pain relief and comfort" and "life support and resuscitation" while the five lowest scores dealt with "Health History and Interview", "Sexuality", "Birth", "Pregnancy" and "Diagnostic Test". The differences among the strength of self -efficacy perception of the nurses on the cognitive construct when grouped according to seven demographic profiles shows that only three of the demographics were different in some of the cognitive construct variables. These were work setting, department and preferred position. The findings of the present study suggest in-service educational training to all nurses on transcultural nursing to enhance their cultural competencies.In addition, Arabic Language training is recommended as one of the requirements for new nurse applicants

Optimized antimicrobial peptide [Bacitracin] production by immobilized and free cells and of bacillus Spp GU215 using wood chips and silicon polymer beads

The immobilization of bacillus spp. GU215 on silicon polymer beads, wood chips was performed and antibiotic peptide [bacitracin] production, optimization of parameters were investigated. The immobilized cells presented elevated levels of activity than free cells. The silicon polymer based cells showed widest zones of inhibitions [18mm] in 72 hours and 4% concentration of glucose, PH 8 and 30°C, whereas a marginal decrease in the activity [14mm] was noticed in case of wood chips based immobilization systems and least stable immobilization in 72 hours incubation time, 4% glucose concentration, PH 8 and 30°C. This study illustrates that the silicon polymer based beads facilitate a strong interactions with bacitracin producing cells and render them suitable for excessive and long time production of antibiotic

Inhibitory effects of Olea ferruginea crude leaves extract against some bacterial and fungal pathogen

This work aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of Olea ferruginea crude leaves extract that are commonly used as remedy to cure infections in the tribal [Khyber Agency] areas of Pakistan against some of bacterial and fungal pathogens. The crude n-hexane fraction was appreciably active against both gram positive and negative microorganisms [MIC ranged from 7.5 to 15 mg/ml] followed by butanol fraction [MIC 15 to 30 mg/ml]. Conversely least biological activity was shown by chloroform [30 mg/ml] and methanol [15 to 30 mg/ml] crude fractions. The MBC observed for all crude fractions was same or 2 times higher when compared with MIC for all crude extract fractions. Likewise all the fractions showed activity against Aspergillus niger and maximum zones of inhibition were shown by the n-hexane fraction [14+/-[0.02], butanol [13+/-[0.02] followed by methanol [9+/-[0.05] and chloroform fractions [7+/-[0.02]. These results clearly imitate the antibacterial and antifungal potential of Olea ferruginea and hence we recommend the whole plant for further futuristic studies

Complete elimination of indigenously isolated agrobacterium tumefaciens strains by quinolone and metallo beta-lactam antibiotics

The present study aimed to isolate Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains from lycoperiscum esculantum [Tomato] galls and investigate in vitro the potential killing activities of various antibiotics. Seven Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains namely WF2, WF7, WF7d, WF11, WF12, WF14 and WF15 were isolated from galls of different lycoperiscum esculantum from various fields in district D.I.Khan. The isolated strains were assayed for their ability to initiate tumors by using a carrot and potato disc assay. Primarly six antibiotics were screened for susceptibility against Agrobacterium tumefaciens by a disc diffusion assay. The antibiotic with the widest zones of inhibition were used for determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] and minimum bactericidal concentrations [MBC].The MIC and MBC of meropenem against almost all strains were the same [0.025mg/ml] except for WF14, [MIC/MBC 0.05mg/ml]. The ciprofloxacin was reported as the second most active antibiotic against A. tumefaciens. Suppression of the growth of all strains occurred at 0.0031mg/ml except for WF7 and WF14 with MIC 0.0062mg/ml. The MBCs of all strains are the same as the corresponding MICs. However, the strain WF15 was two times higher [0.0093mg/ml]. The amoxicillin also represented comparatively lower MIC/MBC [0.2mg/ml] except WF14 [MIC 0.4mg/ml, MBC 0.8mg.ml] without clavulanic acid. It is concluded that both meropenem and ciprofloxacin were highly effective in eliminating the Agrobacterium tumefaciens in a low concentration. These findings prove the effective use of ciprofloxacin and meropenem in agrobacterium mediated transformation in plants

Review of prescriber approach towards rational drug practice in hospitalised patients

The rational drug prescribing practice is an important health concern around the globe that not only interferes patient's life but also the socioeconomic issues. The aim of current study was to evaluate the rational use of drug, prescribing behaviour of consultant physicians, role of medical team members in irrational therapy and form the basis for providing necessary information to the policy makers. This cross-sectional study was conducted involving a set of 340 medication orders containing about 1,755 medications prescribed to patients in DHQ Teaching Hospital DI Khan, Pakistan from March to July 2009. The WHO operational package for monitoring and assessing country pharmaceutical situations indicators were used for data collection. Among drugs prescribed per average encounter, 75% were dispensed from hospital pharmacy. Generally about 22.3% encounters of overdosing, 16.16% drug duplication, 24.25% drugdrug interactions, 3.5% adverse drug effects and 3.8% cases of contraindications were recorded. The proportion of consultations with antibiotics and injectables prescribed was 80% and 57% respectively. Likewise not less than 70% patients were prescribed NSAIDS, 67% steroids, 55% vitamin supplements, and 34% oral re-hydration solutions. Minimum 5 drugs per prescription were recorded and 70% of prescriptions were reported with high cost of therapy. The drug practice among hospitalised patients was clearly irrational accompanied by high levels of medication error. An accurate prescribing decision, appropriate treatment, and rational use of drugs are major needs of the day to ensure safe medication practice

In vitro screening of Circium arvense for potential antibacterial and antifungal activities

The antimicrobial activities of Circium arvense extracts were evaluated against two human gram positive [Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus] and four gram negative pathogen [Escherichia coli, pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter, Klebsiella pneumoniae]. The Methanol extracts of Circium arvense were used to obtain various fractions [XI] n-hexane, [X2] chloroform, [X3] ethyl acetate and [X4] n-butanol. The agar well diffusion assay and agar dilution susceptibility testing were carried out to determine the zone of inhibitions and the minimum inhibitory concentration respectively. Antifungal activity was employed by agar well diffusion method. The Ampicilline, Ofloxacine and Itraconazole were used as standard agents. Almost all fractions exhibited more or less antimicrobial activity. The X2 [Chloroform] fraction was reported as highly active fraction with good antimicrobial activity MIC 0.312 mg/ml against Staphylococcus areous. The MBC values of fraction X2 [chloroform] was 2 times the MIC. Similarly all fractions exhibited good inhibitory activities against Aspergillus niger. The fraction Xl [n-hexane] was found highly active 6[ +/- 0.11], followed by X2 [chloform] fraction 5 [ +/- 0.17]. Present study provides a base to explore the antimicrobial potential of Circium arvense. It is concluded that the Circium arvense having potential antibacterial and antifungal activities, irrespective of fact that the MIC values reported were high. Further investigations are recommended to exploit the hidden medicinal value of plant

Prescribing and dispensing practices in a public sector pediatric ward in D.I.Khan, Pakistan

Inappropriate prescribing practices are seen in many health facilities in developing countries. Medication errors, especially, in pediatric inpatients occur at similar rates as in adults but have three times the potential to cause harm. Antibiotic resistance secondary to poor prescription and dispensing practices are also a major concern for both doctors and patients. To evaluate the prescribing and dispensing practices in pedriatric inpatients at major public health facility and suggest strategies to over come irrational drug use. A prospective study was conducted on 50 children whose data were taken from a pediatric wards of District Headquarter Teaching Hospital D.I.Khan from April to May 2008. Medication errors were characterized by subtypes, ordering, dispensing, dose [over or under dose], adverse drug reactions, potential drug interactions, and irrational drug use, route, and frequency errors. Overall 249 medications were assessed and medication errors rate of 66% was observed. Error rates included overdose errors 27%, potential adverse drug and interactions [9%] and irrational drug use [6%]. Majority of errors [70%] occurred at the ordering stage and involved errors in dosing [42.4%], route [6.1%] and frequency [24.2%]. The most common medication error was in the dosing which ranged from normal dose to 10 times the actual dose required. Antibiotics and steroids were the most common drugs with medication errors. Overall 4 medications per prescription were recorded. Errors contributed by physician were 55%, nursing staff 41%, and pharmacy 4%. High medication error rate in public sector health care facility indicates potential health risk to the children. This problem can be easily solved by appointing a pharmacist in major public sector hospitals

Thanatophoric dysplasia variant in identical Saudi twins; prenatal diagnosis and genetic analysis

Thanatophoric dysplasia is the most common neonatal lethal skeletal dysplasia with an estimated incidence of 1 in 20,000 live births. This condition shares some similarity of radiological findings with other types of lethal skeletal dysplasias. Definite diagnosis is necessary for accurate medical and genetic counseling. Prenatal sonographic and molecular genetic diagnoses in identical twin pregnancy of variant phenotypic appearance TD type I, is presented here