ABSTRACT
With the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, there is a dramatic decrease in the morbidity and mortality related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. Due to varying degree of immunosuppression, patients are prone to various number of infections in their lifetime. Respiratory system, central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract and the skin are the most susceptible for opportunistic infections. Timely management of these microbial infections followed by chemoprophylaxis is essential as per the guidelines for the management of opportunistic infections in HIV. The development of drug toxicities and drug resistance in managing patients with HIV has always remained a clinical challenge. Consideration is given to the numerous pharmacokinetic interactions between drugs used to treat and prevent opportunistic infections and antiretroviral drugs, along with complications like immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. Clinicians must be aware about optimal strategies present for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in order to improve health and provide high quality of care for the patients.
ABSTRACT
This study was carried on to know the average time taken from when the customer arrives in out-patient pharmacy till the collection of medicine and to know the time spent at various counters in the out-patient pharmacy. It was an observational study done on customers attending hospital pharmacy for a period of two months. Seventy out-patients were randomly selected from the population of patients who attended pharmacy. Similarly dispensing operations were observed. Workflow analysis method and stop watch techniques were used to measure patient waiting time. The various places where the customer has to wait from billing till the procurement of medicine was noted and also the total time taken. A total of 35 patients / patient attender’s were observed both in the morning and in the evening. Majority of the time was consumed in billing after placing the prescription on the dispensing table .It was seen that in the morning session the waiting time for the various components of processing was less compared to the afternoon, except for the processing of the transaction time by the cashier is more in the morning (38.34±34.66) sec compared to (28.42±25.67) sec. Majority of the time was consumed in billing after placing the prescription on the dispensing table.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To study the effect of ethanolic extract of the leaf of Plectranthus amboinicus on the healing of burn wounds in wistar rats and compare it with silver sulfadiazine treated group.Materials and Methods: Five groups of rats were used in the study. Partial thickness burn wounds were made on each rat under ketamine anesthesia.The wounds in the five groups of rats were treated topically with petroleum base, silver sulfadiazine,1%, 2% and 3% ointment of ethanolic extract of Plectranthus amboinicus, respectively, once daily for 21 days or till complete healing whichever was earlier. The wound contraction rate and period of epithelization were monitored. Results: The rate of wound contraction was significantly more in Plectranthusamboinicustreated groups in comparison to the control. The mean period of epithelization was significantly decreased in Plectranthus amboinicus treated group when compared to control (P < 0.01) and silver sulfadiazine (P =0.02) treated group. Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of Plectranthusamboinicuspromoted healing of burn wound in wistar rats.