Antimicrobial prescribing pattern in acute tonsillitis: a hospital based study in Ajman, United Arab Emirtaes

The objective of the present study was to determine the antimicrobial prescription pattern in patients with acute tonsillitis. A cross sectional study was carried out among all the patients attending the ENT outpatient department with acute tonsillitis from January 2011 to December 2011. The data were retrieved from the medical records using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS. 19. A total of 238 patients were included in the study [Males 138; females 100]. The majority of the patients were Indians [49 [20.6%]], Emiratis [35 [14.7%]], and Pakistanis [31 [13%]]. The common types of tonsillitis noted were acute parenchymatous tonsillitis, acute follicular tonsillitis and acute pharyngotonsillitis. Of the total, seven [2.9%] patients had self medicated themselves prior to the hospital visit. About 96% of the total drugs were prescribed by brand name. The median number of drugs prescribed was four [range 1-7]. Eighty eight percent of the prescriptions contained antimicrobial agents, which was the most commonly prescribed group of drugs, followed by analgesics and antipyretics. Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid [24.8%] and Ceftriaxone [12.2%] were the most commonly prescribed antimicrobials. About 23.7% of the patients on Amoxicillin/Clavulanic acid had received the drug as intravenous injection. Culture and sensitivity tests were carried out in 106 [44.5%] of the cases. Antimicrobials were changed/ added on after the culture and sensitivity test in 25 patients. No pattern was noticed with regard to the change in AMA; however Cefuroxime was the most frequently added AMA based on the sensitivity report. Therapeutic guidelines based on the current sensitivity pattern can be developed to optimize the use of antimicrobial agents and provide cost effective treatment

Cutaneous adverse drug reactions in a tertiary healthcare centre in Ajman, United Arab Emirates

To study the various clinical patterns of cutaneous adverse drug reactions [ADRs] and to identify the causative drugs. A cross-sectional hospital based study was carried out with patients reporting with cutaneous ADRs to the Department of Dermatology at GMC Hospital, Ajman, U. A. E., between 2010 and 2012. Medical records of the patients were used to obtain demographic, diagnostic and ADR-related information. The data were subjected to detailed statistical analysis using SPSS. 19 software. A total of 43 patients were included [46.5% males and 53.5%females] in the study. The mean age of the patients was 30.07+.-13.63 years. The majority of the patients were from the Middle East, followed by Asian countries. The commonest cutaneous ADRs seen were maculo-papular rash [48.8%], Erythroderma [18.6%], urticaria [11.7%] and Fixed drug eruption [11.7%]. The drugs most responsible for the various cutaneous ADR were antimicrobials in 11[48.8%] and NSAIDs in 14 [32.5%] cases. Carbamazepine and Ciprofloxacin were responsible for two cases [6%] of life-threatening Stevens Johnson syndrome. Mean reaction timewas 5.63 +/- 0.5 days. Reactions were mild [46.7%], moderate [40%] and severe [13.3%]. Based on the WHO Causality assessment of ADRs, 34 [80%] cases were probable in nature; 8 [27%] possible and 1 [3%] case uncertain. A total of 5 [11.6%] cases had past history of ADRs. Three patients [9%] had secondary bacterial infection over ADR lesions and required antimicrobial treatment. The clinical pattern of ADRs and the drugs causing cutaneous ADRs was largely similar to that observed in other countries

Pattern of urinary albumin excretion in non-diabetic first-degree relatives of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients

To determine the pattern of urinary albumin excretion among non-diabetic first-degree relatives of patients with Type 2 DM residing in United Arab Emirates and to relate it to the socio-demographic profile and family history of chronic diseases. non-diabetic first-degree relatives of patients with Type 2 DM attending the Gulf Medical College Hospital [GMCH] or employed in the GMU/ GMCH were invited to participate in the study. None of the participants had any known renal disorder. Data was collected using a pilot-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Albumin/Creatinine ratio [ACR] was measured in urine. Data was analyzed using PASW 19.0 software. Among the 231 participatns, 66.3% were male. 53.7% of the participants were in the 26-35 year age group. Forty [17.3%] had ACR higher than 10mg/g, of whom 10 had > 30mg/g. ACR was >15mg/ g in 9.9% of males and 18% of females. An increasing trend was seen with age. The percentage of participants having ACR 15-30 mg/ g was 6.2, 8.1, 11.4, 27.3 in 10 mg/g, two reported a family history of kidney disorder, three stroke and seven CVD. Among the non-diabetic first-degree relatives of Type 2 DM patients, urinary albumin excretion level was higher among females and in the older age group