Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus prevalence amongst community versus hospital acquired skin and soft tissue infections

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] is becoming increasingly prevalent, not only in the hospital acquired but also the community acquired infections. Skin and soft tissues are a few of the important targets for this pathogen. A study was conducted at the departments of surgery, dermatology and pathology, Combined Military Hospital, Gujranwala Cantt to know the prevalence of MRSA amongst community vs. hospital acquired skin and soft tissue infections [SSTIs]. A total of 216 community acquired and 48 hospital acquired SSTIs were included in the study. The pus swabs/pus specimens collected from all the cases were processed for routine cultures. Isolates were identified as Staphylococcus aureus and resistance to methicillin was detected using standard techniques. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 64.35% of the community acquired and 72.91% of the hospital acquired SSTIs. Prevalence of MRSA amongst community acquired SSTIs was 26.6% while in the hospital acquired SSTIs was 68.57%. The study indicates quite a high prevalence of MRSA amongst community acquired and a very high prevalence in hospital acquired SSTIs. Further large scale studies are required to monitor the prevalence and spread of MRSA amongst SSTIs

Maternal nutritional status and its impact on the health of the newborns

Maintenance of good nutrition during pregnancy is important to meet the nutritional demands of the growing fetus. The research was carried out to study the effect of maternal nutrition on biochemical and physical parameters of the infants. Mothers between the age range of 20 to 40 years visiting Lady Willingdon Hospital, Ittefaq Hospital and Hameed Latif Hospital were included in the study. They were divided in two groups each consisting of 15 mothers belonging to low-income class

Evaluation of the relationship of maternal nutritional status with that of the newborn

To evaluate and see the relationship of maternal nutritional status with that of the newborns. Design: This was a prospective observational study. Place and Duration of Study: The research was carried out on mothers between the age of 20 to 40 years in the Lady Willingdon and Ittefaq Hospital. Patients and The study was carried out on 30 mothers, divided in two groups, comprising 15 in each. 15 mothers belonging to the low socio-economic class whose income was < Rs 6000/month, and 15 to those belonging high socio-economic class with an average monthly income Rs > 20000 / month. Anthropometrics indexes of the infants from Lady Willingdon Hospital indicated that all the infants were of low birth weight [<2500gm]. Low hemoglobin [<10gm/dl] were found in many women though the ferritin stores were satisfactory. Similarly half of the infants had low hemoglobin levels [11-13 gm/dl] with an adequate ferritin stores. It was also found that high maternal hemoglobin levels [>11 gm/dl] were positively correlated with higher infant hemoglobin, serum ferritin, weight, height and head circumference measures. It was thus concluded that maternal nutritional status is directly related with that of newborn

Ante partum haemorrhage due to placenta-previa: an alarm to mother and foetus

Placenta previa is the major cause of antepartum haemorrhage. It is one of the known cause of foeto maternal mortality especially in the unbooked cases.Pregnant patients of 15-45 years age admitted through OPD/COD during three years from April 1996-1999 were included in the study.Diagnosis was made on the clinical grounds and confirmed by the ultrasonography. Risk factors and the out come was compared in booked and unbooked cases. Results concluded good prognosis in booked cases where problem was detected earlier and monitored vigilantly. In unbooked cases haemorrhage, infection, coexisting pathology and surgical complications caused maternal mortality while prematurity, hypoxia and malpresentation were associated with foetal mortality. In conclusion early diagnosis management and preventing the avoidable causes were suggested i.e., limiting the family to 3 by the age of 30 years and later use of contraceptive methods, admission of the pregnant patient with placenta previa at the gestational age of 34 weeks completed or earlier if any complication arises and this followed by the cesarean section at 37 completed weeks, especially in the cases of central placenta previa, previous cesarean section or coexisting pathology. Education about the antenatal care, health facility for foeto maternal health at hospitals is important, easy and rich availability of the blood for transfusion if required. Surgical facilities in cases with haemorrhage, Bed rest, avoiding trauma and long travelling in high risk cases especially in cases of placenta previa type 3 or 4