ABSTRACT
Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second cause of death after lung cancer. One in eight women will become ill during their lifetime. Deaths from breast cancer made up around 7.2% of all deaths from cancer while among women, breast cancer accounted for 16.2% of all deaths from cancer. To assess anxiety, depression in women with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy.Material & Methods:The study was conducted in the Department of Clinical Oncology, Enam Medical College & Hospital from March 2020 to April 2021. A total number of 120 women diagnosed with non-metastatic breast cancer were recruited for this cross-sectional survey. Following informed consent, patients were asked to complete demographics and clinical data questionnaire comprising with, the Dass-21 scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale- HADS. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS software system.Results:The incidence of depression and anxiety for breast cancer patients is high. Results highlight similar prevalence of depression with HADS (37.5% mild and moderate depression and 62.5% serious depression) DASS-21 (39.2% mild and moderate 60.8% serious depression) but not similar for anxiety.Conclusions:The psychological complication in breast cancer patients was remarkable. Efforts to detect and treat depression and anxiety should be a priority, since they contribute to better tolerance and effectiveness in anti-neoplasmatic therapies.
ABSTRACT
Background: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) account for large-scale morbidity and mortality among cancer patients requiring a rational antibiotic policy. In Bangladesh, there is a paucity of data regarding incidence and pattern of BSI in such patients. Objective:To evaluate the pattern of BSI in cancer patients and their sensitivity and resistance toward antibiotic.Material & Methods:The present study was a retrospective analysis of BSI patterns among various cancer patients treated at Department of Oncology, Enam Medical College Hospital, Saver, Bangladesh during the period from January to June 2021. Blood culture results and their sensitivity patterns of these cancer patients along with the demographic characteristics were collected from the records and maintained in the structured pro forma. Before starting empirical antibiotics, 10 ml of blood was collected into Bract/ALERT culture media.Results:A total of 82 patients/episodes had confirmed BSI. Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 43 (52.4%) cases, followed by Gram positive 38 (46.4%) cases and 1 case of candida species. The most common organisms isolated were Klebsiella pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus consisting of 17 cases each. The Gram-negative bacterial isolates (n = 43) were sensitive to cefoperazone plus sulbactam, piperacillin plus tazobactam, carbapenem, and colitis in 18 (41.9%), 19 (44.2%), 29 (67.4%), and 40 (93%) episodes, respectively. The sensitivity of Gram-positive bacteria (n = 38) to vancomycin, linezolid, and teicoplanin was seen in 37 (97.3%), 37 (97.3%), and 35 (92.1%) episodes, respectively. Multidrug-resistant bacteria accounted for 17 (39.5%) cases of Gram-negative isolates and 9 (53%) of which were K. pneumonia. Extended spectrum beta-lactamase activity was seen in 11 of 26 episodes of Enterobacteriaceae. Four of 17 S. aureus and 3 of 11 coagulase-negative Staphylococci were methicillin resistant, and 1 of 2 cases of Enterococcus was vancomycin resistant.Conclusions:Gram-negative bacteria are the predominant cause of BSI in cancer patients and development of a high degree of resistance to commonly used antibiotics is challenging.
ABSTRACT
The incidence of aetiology-specific diarrhoea and the pathogenicity of infectious agents in a birth cohort (n=252) in rural Bangladesh were determined. Stool specimens or rectal swabs were collected from diarrhoeal cases over two years and routinely on a monthly basis. Stool samples from children with diarrhoea were compared with stool samples from children without diarrhoea to calculate rates of isolation and pathogenicity of agents. In total, 1750 stool specimens from diarrhoea patients and 5679 stool specimens from children without diarrhoea were tested. An infectious agent was identified in 58% of the stool specimens from diarrhoea patients and 21.6% of the stool specimens from children without diarrhoea. The most commonly-isolated pathogens from all specimens were enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), enteroadherent E. coli, Shigella, Campylobacter jejuni, Giardia, and rotavirus. ETEC (ST and LT-ST toxin), enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis, Shigella, and rotavirus were associated more with disease than with asymptomatic infections. Aetiology-specific infections were associated with acute episodes. The isolated enteropathogens were essentially the same as those found in other tropical rural settings. Enterotoxigenic B. fragilis was also identified as a pathogen. Ongoing vaccine efforts focusing on Shigella, rotavirus, and ETEC would be useful.