Hepatitis B virus infection and its associated risk factors; assessment in a tertiary care hospital

The present study was carried out to screen for prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus [HBV] infection and its associated risk factors in patients presenting for various complaints at a tertiary care hospital. Cross-sectional descriptive study. Nawaz Sharif social security Hospital, Multan Road Lahore from January 2008 through December, 2009. A total of 15403 patients, aged 14 to 60 years, belonging to low socio-economic group were screened for Hepatitis B surface antigen [HbsAg] during the study period. Relevant information was obtained through a pre-designed questionnaire prepared in accordance with the objectives of the study. Patient's serum was tested qualitatively for HbsAg by rapid immunochromatographic technique [ICT devices, Accurate, USA] according to the manufacturer's instructions.All sera showing reactivity were then confirmed with Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA]. HbsAg positivity was found in 488 [3.16%] patients of the screened population. Associated risk factors were: therapeutic injections [25.0%], shaving from community barbers [15.98%], blood or blood product transfusions [10.04%], HbsAg positive sexual partners [7.99%], dental treatment [6.96%], past surgical history [4.91%], occupational exposure [3.07%], pricking nose/ears [3.07%], H/o hemodialysis [2.04%] and medical endoscopy [1.02%]. 5.94% cases revealed no risk factor whereas 13.93% cases had multiple risk factors. A high prevalence of known etiological risk factors for HBV infection in the HBV positive patients documented in our study should not go without serious concern. Public awareness programs should be launched through mass media to discourage the malpractices related to risk factors

Bacteriological quality of drinking water in Lahore

It is well established that a large number of infectious diseases are transmitted primarily through water supplies contaminated with human and animal excreta particularly faeces. The purpose of the study was to assess bacteriological quality of drinking water in Lahore-Pakistan. It is a cross sectional descriptive study performing the Lahore city during the months of April and May 2008. A total of 530 water samples were collected from different localities of whole of the Lahore city. These represented areas with different socio-economic conditions. The samples were collected in sterilized containers and brought to the laboratory within two hours of collection. All the samples were tested for contamination with bacteria using multiple tube method to determine most probable number of total coliforms and faecal coliforms using standard procedure. Among 530 water samples, 197 samples [37.2%] were positive for bacterial contamination. It was observed that bacterial contamination was maximum in areas with low SEC [43.6%], followed by intermediate SEC [36.5%] and high SEC [22.9%]. The difference was found to be statistically significant [p<0.15] between areas with High and Low SEC while it was non-significant [p>0.5] between areas with Low and Intermediate SEC. Bacterial contamination is significant pro Hem in Lahore. Regular monitoring and chlorination/establishment of water filtration plants can improve this situation