ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the current trend of antimicrobial susceptibility of typhoidal Salmonellae. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology, PNS Shifa Hospital, Karachi, from January 2014 to December 2015
Methodology: Blood culture samples received from the wards and outpatient departments were included. Isolates of Salmonella were dealt with standard microbiological procedures. The antimicrobial sensitivity against the typhoidal Salmonellae was determined using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method as per the guidelines of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute [2013]
Results: A total of 460 typhoidal Salmonellae were isolated; out of which 270 were Salmonella typhi and 190 were Salmonella paratyphi A. The percentage of MDR isolates of S. typhi was 57% and that of S. paratyphi A was 42%. None of the isolates were resistant to ceftriaxone, while sensitivity to ciprofloxacin [07% and 0% for S. typhi and S. paratyphi A, respectively] was very low
Conclusion: There is high percentage of MDR isolates of typhoidal Salmonellae in our region. The antimicrobial sensitivity of typhoidal Salmonellae to conventional agent has not improved enough to recommend their empirical use. There is almost complete resistance to fluoroquinolones as well, leaving very limited available treatment options
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the effects of age, cause of amputation, and anatomic level of amputation on the health related quality of life [HRQOL] in individuals with unilateral lower limb amputation. Study Design: A cross-sectional survey. Place and Duration of Study: The Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, from August 2014 to February 2015
Methodology: Short Form-36 [SF-36] health related quality of life [HRQOL]. Survey questionnaire was used to collect data. The responses were scored by using the quality metric health outcomes[TM] scoring software 4.5. The scores were entered and analysed in SPSS version 21
Results: A total of 52 patients were inducted with mean age of 30.71 +/-7.50 years. Mean physical component summary [PCS] was lower than mental component summary [MCS] [38.7 vs. 44.8]. RP and RE scores were found to be significantly associated with gender [p=0.024 and p=0.003, respectively]. Age group was also significantly associated with RP [p=0.037] and SF [p=0.041]. When SF-36 domains were compared with level of amputation [i.e. trans-tibial and trans- femoral], none of the domains showed any statistically significant results
Conclusion: Age and indication affect different aspects of quality of life but level of amputation did not. If these are known and anticipated before any type of rehabilitation, this could help in anticipation of health consequences and prevention accordingly