ABSTRACT
Background: Pneumonia is a lower respiratory tract infection characterized by inflammation of lung tissue accompanied by infiltration of alveoli and bronchioles. Most common type is community acquired pneumonia (CAP). Initial therapy is usually empirical that is designed to treat various pathogens. In CAP cases, antibiotic therapy should begin at the earliest. The objectives of the study include to identify most common causative micro-organisms, to assess risk of developing CAP in patients having co-morbidities, to identify most commonly prescribed antibiotic regimen.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted for period of 6 months at RIMS, Kadapa. 120 patients were recruited based on inclusion criteria. Treatment was given according to Infectious Diseases Society of America and American Thoracic Society guidelines.Results: In a total of 120 patients, 77 were males and 43 were females. 69 patients belong to 46-55 & above age groups. 84 patients had social habits and 36 patients are without social habits. Patients with single lobe infiltrations are 105 and patients with multiple lobe infiltrations are 15. In our study, streptococcus pneumoniae and pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most common isolated organisms. Monotherapy was given for 7 patients, dual therapy for 97 patients and triple therapy for 16 patients. 33 patients received ceftriaxone (CEF) and augmentin (AUG), 29 patients received CEF and azithromycin (AZI), 7 patients received levofloxacin (LEV), 25 patients received CEF and LEV, 10 patients received CEF and ciprofloxacin (CIP) and 16 patients received CEF, AUG and AZI. 100 patients had less than 8 days of hospital stay.Conclusions: Research study concluded that ? lactum antibiotics were the most commonly prescribed class. CEF and AUG was highly recommended drug regimen.
ABSTRACT
Background: Despite of prescribing and administration of drugs to the patient, handling of drugs with utmost care by proper storage and use helps the drug not to lose its potency when administered to a patient. Storage is an important aspect of the total drug control system. There is a need to increase awareness among nurse so as to avoid treatment failure. Exposure to light is a concern with numerous medications due to the potential for photodegradation or other chemical reactions that affect drug stability.Methods: This study was conducted on nursing professionals and students (BSc) students 1st year /2nd year, working in different departments of Inpatient and Outpatient in a tertiary care teaching hospital of RIMS Kadapa. The data was collected by using structured knowledge questionnaire on proper storage of drugs that should be protected from light which consists of 20 items, based on their answers score was given1-10.Results: Among 50, the highest number was occupied by staff nurses (28), followed by head nurses (12), student nurses (8) and the least was nursing officers (2). Majority of them were B.Sc. qualified (26), followed by general nursing (10). The M.Sc and diploma qualified nurses were seven and six in number respectively. Based on scoring they were classified as POOR (<5) 13, AVERAGE (5-10) 24, GOOD (>10) 13.Conclusions: In this study half of the nursing professionals have average knowledge on storage of light sensitive drugs irrespective of their experience, so there is a need to increase awareness on storage of light sensitive drugs.