ABSTRACT
Background: Pharmacovigilance aids in early detection of ADRs and as well as identification of various risk factors. Reporting of ADRs is crucial for the success of pharmacovigilance program. Aims/Objective: This questionnaire based study among medical resident’s aims at assessing knowledge, attitude & practice towards adverse drug reaction reporting in the teaching hospital attached to a private medical college and design methods to improve existing ADR reporting system in our setup. Methods: This study is a questionnaire based cross-sectional study. It was conducted at Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College & research Centre, Moradabad, West Uttar Pradesh, among the first year and final year medical post graduates/PGs, by using a pre-validated, modified questionnaire on knowledge, attitude & practice. A total of 90 questionnaires were duly filled out by the post graduates. Data was analyzed by using SPSS V.20. The chi-square test was used to determine statistical significance. Results: Majority (89%) reported to have reasonable knowledge of adverse drug reactions, but reported an average degree of knowledge regarding various aspects of pharmacovigilance. 61% respondents were not aware of presence of an AMC affiliated to this hospital. Final year medical post graduates were found to have poor attitude towards acts of reporting of adverse drug reactions although they pose better knowledge regarding drug safety as well as importance of ADR reporting. Lack of training (90%) on ADR reporting was also recorded. Conclusions: This study recorded average knowledge, positive attitude towards necessity of reporting of ADRs of medical post graduates. Necessity of educational interventions to update knowledge and improve practice of ADR reporting were identified as important measures that need to be taken care of.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Antimicrobial therapy is the mainstay for the treatment of Typhoid fever that shortens the clinical course of typhoid fever and reduces the risk of death. For decades, chloramphenicol has been highly effective against S. typhi, but multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains of S. typhi (resistant to chloramphenicol, trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole, and ampicillin) has restricted its use in typhoid fever. Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of Azithromycin and Ofloxacin in children suffering from uncomplicated typhoid fever. Methods: Blood culture proven, uncomplicated typhoid fever patients admitted in the pediatric ward of J. N. Medical college, Aligarh were treated with ofloxacin orally (15mg/kg/24 hrs BD for 5 days) and azithromycin orally (10mg/kg/24 hrs OD on Day 1, then 5mg/kg OD for next 4 days). Patients were clinically and bacteriologically evaluated during the study period and follow-up. Results: 96.7 % cure rate was observed in azithromycin group. No relapse was recorded. Conclusion: Both Ofloxacin as well as azithromycin may be considered as an empirical therapy for the treatment of uncomplicated typhoid in children .
ABSTRACT
Background: Prescription of antidepressants has been increased from the last decade and responsible for producing sleep disorders as adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Sleep disorders can be divided into 3 large groups: (1) insomnia, (2) primary complaint of daytime sleepiness, and (3) Association of disruptive behaviours during sleep, the disorders of arousal. So active surveillance is needed to access these ADRs. Aims and Objective: To analyze the sleep disturbances as ADRs of various antidepressants prescribed to the patients attending psychiatry outpatient department (OPD). Methods: This prospective study was conducted on patients aged ≤74 years attending Department of Psychiatry OPD and were prescribed Antidepressants for the duration of 8 months (December, 2013-July, 2014). The ADRs reported were confirmed by WHO UMC Causality Assessment Scale. Results: Total number of patients enrolled on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria (n=50). Total number of ADRs related to drugs prescribed were found to be n=69. Total number of patients with sleep disturbances as ADRs were found to be n=28. Conclusion: The drug, most frequently implicated to cause sleep disturbances, was mirtazapine. Increased sleep was the most common ADR, found to occur. Unusual ADRs such as sleep talking was also seen.
ABSTRACT
Background: Typhoid fever is a systemic infection caused by Gram-negative bacterium Salmonella enterica serovar typhi (S. typhi). It is a major health problem in India. It carries significant morbidity and mortality. Antimicrobial therapy is critical for the management of typhoid fever. Emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and nalidixic acid-resistant (NAR) strains of S. typhi has complicated therapy by limiting treatment options. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of ceftriaxone and azithromycin combination therapy in uncomplicated typhoid fever. Methods: Adults patients of blood culture proven uncomplicated typhoid fever admitted in the medicine ward of Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College and Research Centre were treated with ceftriaxone intravenously (2 g daily for 14 days) and azithromycin orally (500 mg daily for 7 days). Patients were clinically and bacteriologically evaluated during the study period and follow-up. Results: 96% cure rate was observed. No relapse was recorded. Conclusion: Ceftriaxone-azithromycin combination may be considered as an empirical therapy for treatment of uncomplicated typhoid fever in view of the emergence of MDR and NAR strains of S. typhi.