Upgrading of Kato-katz technique for diagnosis of S. Mansoni infection in rural Egypt

Processing of the same stool samples was done using standard Kato-Katz [KK] technique with 41.7 mg of stools and one of the three modifications. These included KK technique using a higher concentration of glycerin for preparation or another stain [negrosin- eosin] with a specified formula instead of the standard malachite green or processing a smaller volume of stools [20 mg]. The results showed that using cumulative infection rate from the two comparable tests as the reference KK with higher concentration of glycerin was more sensitive than standard KK [sensitivities 77.6% and 61.2%, respectively]. Using negrosin-eosin stain showed higher sensitivity [75.0%] in relation to standard KK technique [70.8%]. KK with higher concentration of glycerin showed the same sensitivity as KK with negrosin-eosin stain [85.7%] in relation to others. All comparisons showed statistically insignificant differences. Using 20 mg of stools showed very low sensitivity in relation to standard KK technique [57.9% and 100%, respectively]. The statistical difference was highly significant. All specificities were 100%. Other screening indices showed the same trend of sensitivities. Degree of microscope clarity was optimal with higher concentration of glycerin. Negrosin-eosin showed better visualization of ova than the standard KK. All modifications took only an hour after processing to be examined. KK technique used with any of these modifications is simple, inexpensive, use with either a higher concentration of glycerin or negrosin-eosin stain

KAP study among staff and student nurses about infection control in Theodor Bilharz Hospital

The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of staff and student nurses in Theodore Bilharz Research Institute Hospital towards simple protective measures such as: Hand washing practices, recapping of syringe needles after use, and their awareness of Hepatitis B and C viruses prevention and control. A questionnaire is designed and distributed to all student nurses in the school [4l students out of 45], and to all staff nurses working in the hospital [39 nurses out of 50], with a total of 80 out of 95. Scoring system is used for data analysis. The overall scoring of KAP for the three items studied is below 80%, which means that they really need health education about these items. Thus, it is very important to create public awareness in the hospital community and among nurses about the concept of infection control. This could be done through formal and informal instructions and by organizing regular courses and posters. It is very essential to provide safe disposal of syringe needles in special containers, have facilities for hand washing during work and apply HB vaccine for nurses working in the hospital. Meanwhile, a highly motivated behavior should be enabled and reinforced through realization of the regulatory and organizational factors for better implementation arrangement, which all supplement the educational intervention directed to change rather than just planning