ABSTRACT
Among the well-known Health care-associated infections [HAIs], surgical site infections [SSIs] contribute to considerable high mortality and morbidity rate, substantial prolongation in hospitalization period and extra expenses in terms of treatment cost. This study was aimed to evaluate the predictive variables associated with surgical site infections, and their clinical consequences. This was a prospective, cross sectional study conducted in the surgical department of tertiary care setting in Karachi, Pakistan. Each patient was followed up from the time of admission until time of the discharge postoperatively for 30 days. A total of 554 surgical procedures were performed and 81 SSIs were identified. The predictor variable/risk factors significantly associated with the presence of SSI were age, gender, BMI, ASA score, co-morbid condition, surgical wound class, emergency surgeries, duration of surgery, type of anesthesia, prosthetic implant, pre operative length of stay and pre operative blood transfusion. Outcomes of such studies may be utilized in the design of a multi factorial practice to get better patient's safety and clinical outcomes
ABSTRACT
Drug-drug interactions [DDIs] are extremely significant concern, particularly in sensitive population including pediatric and geriatric. Propensity for the development of DDIs is high in patients admitted at intensive care units [ICU]. This study was conducted to evaluate the DDIs incidence, facts and measures in ICU. From a total of 150 cases studied for ICU patients, with the mean age of 56.37+/-12.45 years, 55.33% were male and the rest were female 44.66%. The demographic information like age, gender and main diagnosis details of study participants that were extracted from the patients' clinical record. A statistically significant association between the drug interaction and the number of drugs prescribed per prescription was observed [p <0.0001]. Concerning the onset of outcome, 52% of DDIs distinguished as delayed onset of effect [past 24 hours] and 35% were categorized as rapid onset [within 24 hours]. Despite the facts regarding patient safety and minimizing DIs error, polypharmacy is still frequent in critically ill patients admitted in ICU attributed high risk of adverse reactions due to use of multiple interventions to treat severity of disease condition. Such studies may be used to develop an effective tool for the diagnosis and management of DDIs
ABSTRACT
A simple, sensitive and rigorous method for estimation of dimenhydrinate in human plasma was searched and its validation was carried out. LLE [Liquid-Liquid extraction] of analyte with mixture of Hexane and ethyl acetate [1:1 v/v] was carried out for the preparation of Plasma Samples, Chromatographic elution of dimenhydrinate was conducted in human plasma and mobile phase with C-18 bonda Pack column [10 micro m; 250 × 4.6], using a mobile phase consisting a solution of ammonium bicarbonate in water and methanol at a flow rate of 0.5ml/minute with UV detection at 229 nm. The resolution of dimenhydrinate was well performed from plasma components. This method was validated and exhibited linearity with concentration range of 6 to 380ng/ml of dimenhydrinate in plasma. The Intraday precision was 89.2 to 96.89% and Inter day precision was 88.6% to 93.26%, the average recovery of dimenhydrinate was 97.02%. The efficacy of extraction was proved by above mentioned results. 2ng/ml and 6ng/ml, were appraised as the LOD and LOQ of dimenhydrinate, stability studies disclosed that dimenhydrinate exhibited stability in Plasma after Freeze and thaw cycles and upon -20 degree C storage, the method was developed well
ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the awareness, need, role, and the effectiveness of the health education programs in improvement of well being of the community/citizens. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted, from Aug to Dec 2015 at the four districts of Karachi city
Material and Methods: The instrument of the study was a questionnaire, including basic demographic information of the participants and other 20 items related to need and role of health education programs in control of diseases. A total 250 participants were selected through stratified random sampling design from residential areas of North, South, East and West districts of Karachi. Participants failed to answer item one of the questionnaire were excluded from the study. The data was then analyzed and expressed in percentages and graphs
Results: Total 189 residents were continued the participation belonging to the age group between 18-65 years. Majority of the respondents [96.82%] were in favor of organizing health education activities. About 75.13% believed that such programs have pronounced effect in management of diseases. Furthermore, participants [51.32%] were willing to attend health seminars/symposiums and workshops to be aware to their medical problems. It was also found that they have basic concept of immunization and harmful effects of smoking on health
Conclusion: Over all the residents of Karachi were well aware to the health education and its role in improvement of disease status. Residents showed positive response for participation in health education activities to manage their illness or medical problems. However, the present study involves a smaller population subjects. Authors highly recommended the institution of health education programs in hospitals and community to make the people and environment healthy
ABSTRACT
A simple stability indicating UV-spectrophotometric method has been developed and validated for the determination of cinitapride hydrogen tartrate [CHT] in bulk and solid pharmaceutical dosage form. Drug absorption was measured in different analytical mediums however; maximum absorption was seen in 0.1 N HCl at wavelength [lamda [max]] of 266 nm. The calibration curve was found to be linear over the concentration range from 6 to14 micro g/mL with the correlation coefficient value [r] of 0.999. The LOD and LOQ were estimated to be 0.1019 micro g/ml and 0.309 micro g/ml respectively. The accuracy was evaluated by determining the percent drug recovery, performed at three different levels of 50%, 100% and 150%. The% recovery was found to be in the range of 99.96-100.64%. The precision of the method was determined by inter-day and intra-day variations. The % RSD value <0.5 indicates the underlying method is precise and accurate as well. The developed method was applied to characterize in vitro assay content of few brands of cinitapride [1 mg] available in local market. No interference of the formulation excipients with the drug absorption was observed during assay. Drug substance and drug product were exposed to various stressed conditions [acid, base, oxidative, thermal and photolysis]. Forced degradation testing of drug product showed that the oxidation [20%] was found to be the major degradation pathway of the cinitapride. However; drug estimation was not influenced in presence of degradation moieties formed during acid, base, oxidation, thermal and photolytic breakdown. Overall, the investigated technique is robust and specific that would be successfully used to quantify the cinitapride hydrogen tartarate in pharmaceutical dosage and bulk form in future
ABSTRACT
Emerging resistance against broad-spectrum antibiotics for standard empiric therapy is a global concern. Ceftriaxone [broad spectrum, third generation cephalosporin] is widely used in tertiary care settings to treat severe bacterial infections usually non-responsive to other antibiotics. The aim of the study is to evaluate the current sensitivity pattern of ceftriaxone [30micro g/disk] among different clinical isolates. For this purpose, three hundred clinical isolates including Escherichia coli [25%], Staphylococcus aureus [30%], Salmonella typhi [17%] and Klebsiella pneumoniae [20%] were collected from different pathological laboratories of Karachi, Pakistan. The in-vitro sensitivity of different Gram positive and Gram-negative bacteria was determined by disk-diffusion technique using 0.5 McFarland standard. Results showed that ceftriaxone was highly sensitive against Escherichia coli [90%] and least sensitive against Klebsiella pneumoniae [65%]. It is concluded that the sensitivity of ceftriaxone is progressively decreasing in comparison with past studies creating an alarming situation. Therefore, continuous surveillance is required to determine the current resistance status of clinical pathogens and for effective anti-microbial therapy
ABSTRACT
Background: Levofloxacin is a broad spectrum quinolone, widely used to treat infections caused by gram negative and gram positive bacteria. Development of resistance by pathogens against different broad spectrum antibiotics is increasing and now becoming a global issue
Objectives: The aim of the study is to evaluate the current sensitivity pattern of levofloxacin against various common clinical isolates like Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiellapneumoniae
Methods: A total of one hundred and ten samples were collected from different pathological laboratories of Karachi, Pakistan. The above mentioned pathogens were isolated from blood, stool/urine, sputum, skin samples
Results: Results show least resistance of levofloxacin against Ecoli [27.5%], and P.aeruginosa [27%], while S.aureus possessed highest resistance [45%]
Conclusion: Study concluded levofloxacin still possesses excellent anti-microbial activity against common pathogens. Routine monitoring and surveillance is further required to ensure effective treatment regimens to community