ABSTRACT
Introduction: Management of chronic Hepatitis C and its complications is a major concern for physicians. Peripheral neuropathy is a disease affecting the nerves, and is one of the complications of Hepatitis C
Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy in chronic hepatitis-C patients. Study design and duration: The type of study is a cross-sectional study, which was conducted over a period of one month from 01-11-2015 to 30-11-2015
Setting: The study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan
Sample size and procedure: The study population consisted of a random sample group of 139 Hepatitis C positive patients who presented to the Internal Medicine Department either via out-patient clinic or via emergency. After due informed consent, variable such as demographic data and type and degree of neuropathy were recorded. All the Hepatitis-C patients who presented to us during that time were evaluated clinically, serologically and electrophysiologically. Data Analysis: Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20
Results: Out of the total study population of n= 139 patients peripheral neuropathy was present in n= 77 [55.39%] of the patient population; n= 3 [2.15%] had sensory type of neuropathy, n=13 [9.35%] had motor neuropathy and n= 61 [43.88%] had mixed type of neuropathy
Conclusion: According to the results of our study there is a significant association of peripheral neuropathy with hepatitis C in patients in South Asian population as more than hald of the participants had some form of peripheral neuropathy.
ABSTRACT
To determine the frequency of colonization of intravenous [IV] cannula by microorganism in patients admitted to intensive care unit [ICU] and to determine the frequency of common organisms involved in colonization of IV-cannula. A total of 369 patients of age more than 12 years, and meeting inclusion criteria of the study were included from in medical ICU after taking informed consent. Staff nurse introduced intravenous cannula of appropriate bore after proper disinfection of the insertion site with povidone iodine solution and alcohol. The cannula was removed for culture within 48 hours of insertion if clinical signs i.e. redness and swelling was present. Mean age was 41 [ +/- 16.7] years. Male to female ratio was 1.07:1. Presence of colonization in IV-cannula was seen in 31 [8.4%] cases. Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci was the most common microorganism seen in 24 [77.4%] patients. The incidence of IV cannula colonization is low in this study. Bacterial colonization occurs in the indwelling intra vascular cannula despite, adequate precautions. Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci and S. Aureus were the common organisms