ABSTRACT
This community-based investigation was carried out to estimate the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in primary school-going children of the Dharan municipality, Sunsari, Nepal from 2007 through 2008. A total of 182 stool samples were collected from 101 male and 81 female children of ages 4 to 10 years. A questionnaire including the factors predisposing to parasitosis, was filled up by the parents of each child. Parasitic examination was carried out by direct wet mount examination and concentration method using 10% formol-ether. The prevalence rate was found to be 22.5%. The result revealed preponderance of Giardia lamblia (11.5%) followed by Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (4.4%), Ascaris lumbricoides (3.3%), hookworm (1.6%) and Enterobius vermicularis (0.5%). Statistically significant difference in the prevalence with respect to age and gender was not seen. However, socioeconomic status, type of toilet used and the practice of hand washing had a strong correlation (p<0.05) with the prevalence of parasitic infection. Abdominal discomfort also had a strong statistical association (p<0.05) with the prevalence of parasitic infection. Proportionally higher infection rate was seen in participants not using filtered or boiled water. Lack of education of mothers and children, improper toilets and failure to practice proper hand washing were perceived from this study as contributors to the acquisition of intestinal parasitic infections.
ABSTRACT
Infective Endocarditis (IE) is an emerging infection of the twenty-first century. This chronic Infection is mainly caused by bacteria, although fungi can also be associated with it. It is Important to know the profile of bacteria causing IE in a given region so as to suggest the empirical therapy for this serious illness. Blood culture isolates of clinically diagnosed or suspected cases of IE admitted to various wards of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences were analyzed retrospectively from January 2000 to June 2004. Standard techniques were used for the isolation and identification of the bacteria. Our study has demonstrated the predominance of Gram-negative bacilli, especially, Acinetobacter species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are notorious for antimicrobial resistance, as the aetiological agents of IE. Amongst Gram-positive cocci, Enterococci exhibiting HLAR comprised the predominant species. Methicillin resistance among staphylococcal strains in this Tertiary care hospital is adding to the therapeutic challenge in the management of this serious illness. Although antimicrobial treatment should not be delayed in such cases, we cannot undermine the importance of isolation and identification of the etiological agents and the determination of the antimicrobial susceptibility for the management of these life-threatening conditions as well as for the formulation of guidelines for empirical therapy of these cases.