Epidemiologic pattern of falls among inpatients in Ain Shams University Hospitals in Cairo, Egypt

Patient falls and injuries during hospitalization is a good quality indicator of safety of inpatients. Data on inpatients falls are deficient in Egyptian hospitals. Ain Shams university hospitals do not have any recording system for falls. This study aimed at estimating the incidence density of falls and describing pattern and risk factors contributing to falls in Ain shams university hospitals. A prospective follow up study was conducted on inpatients admitted to Ain Shams university hospitals. Patients were followed up for a maximum of two weeks for the occurrence of fall. An interview questionnaire addressed to in-patients was designed to investigate the incident of fall. Type of fall, provisional cause, consequences, night or day timing of fall, walking condition in hospital and past history of fall were among the factors investigated in the incident of fall. Questionnaire assessing the basic and instrumental daily activities for the elderly [>/= 60 years] was completed. 1779 patients were included in the study in eight different wards with a mean age of 41 .8 years. The incidence density of falls was 9 per 1000 patient days. Logistic regression analysis identified male gender, walking difficulties in-hospital and history of falls before hospitalization as independent risk factors for falls among below 60 years patients. While diabetes mellitus, walking difficulties in-hospital, medical [non-surgical] conditions and dependency [as assessed by basic and instrumental daily activities] were the independent risk factors of falls among elderly. Incidence of falls is relatively high among the studied university hospitals. Identified risk factors differed among adults compared to elderly. Measuring, monitoring and assessing fall rates are strongly recommended using a valid and reliable tool to improve quality of health services

Prevalence of intestinal parasitosis in a rural population in Egypt, and its relation to socio-demographic characteristics

A cross-sectional study was conducted in a village in Menoufia Governorate, Egypt where the majority of people had individual trenches in the houses for sewage disposal with absence of public sewage system. Out of 2292 stool samples 47.8% had at least a single infection. Multiple infections occurred in 14.9%. Entamoeba histolytica was 20%, E. coli 10%, Giardia lamblia 10%, Ascaris lumbricoides 27.31%, Hymenolepis nana 2.96%, Schistosoma mansoni 2.45% and Ancylostoma duodenale 2.23%. Males were significantly infected with S. mansoni than females. Younger age groups were significantly infected by H. nana than older ones. Working in agriculture was significantly at risk with S. mansoni and A. duodenale infections. On multiple logistic regression analysis; the risk factor most strongly associated with infection was the presence of another infected family member

Prevalence of S. mansoni and intestinal parasites in a rural population in Egypt, and its relation to socio-demographic characteristics

A cross-sectional study was conducted in a village in Menoufia Governorate in Egypt where the majority of people had individual trenches in the houses for sewage disposal with absence of public sewage system. Out of 2292 stool samples 47.8% had at least a single infection. Multiple infections occurred in 14.9%. Entamoeba histolytica was 20%, E. coli 10%, Giardia lamblia 10%, Ascaris lumbricoides 27.31%, Hymenolepis nana 2.96%, Schistosoma mansoni 2.45% and Ancylostoma duodenale 2.23%. Males were significantly infected with S. mansoni than females. Younger age groups were significantly infected by H. nana than older ones. Working in agriculture was significantly at risk with S. mansoni and A. duodenale infections. On multiple logistic regression analysis, the risk factor most strongly associated with infection was the presence of another infected family member. We recommend screening all family members of positive cases

Toxic effects of nickel on male fertility in white rats

Eighty mature rats were used to study the toxic effects of nickel chloride on the male fertility. They were given 500 ppm nickel chloride hexahydrate in drinking water for eight weeks. Sperm, serum and tissue samples for tests and accessory glands were taken for spermatozoal examination, hormonal and enzymatic assay and histopathological study, respectively. The results revealed significant decrease of sperm motility, concentration and live sperm while abnormalities of sperm were significantly increased. Determination of FSH, LH and testosterone showed insignificant changes in FSH concentration, while LH was markedly decreased till the middle of study, then significantly increased at the end of experiment. Testosterone hormone, contrary to LH, was significantly increased till the 4th week of experiment followed by marked decrease in concentration at the end of the investigation. Prostatic acid phosphatase enzyme in serum of treated rats were significantly increased throughout the experiment. Histopathological examination revealed degeneration and necrosis in testes, seminal vesiculitis and hyperplasia of prostatic acini