Study on utilization of personal protective equipments by paramedical staffs: an institutional study at RIMS, Ranchi

Background: Personal protective equipment (PPE) continues to play an integral role in prevention of transmission of infection in the healthcare setting. The objective of this study is to determine the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of universal precautions for control of infection among health care workers.Methods: Cross sectional study were conducted at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi during the period of November 2018 to January 2019. 151 paramedical staffs were included as study population. Sampling method was consecutive sampling.Results: The present study included 151 paramedical staffs, based on our criteria about knowledge of PPEs, 88.7% (134) of participants had the knowledge, while 11.3% (17) did not have. 77% (116) of paramedical staffs received formal training while 23.2% (35) didn’t. 95.68% had the knowledge about PPEs who received training (116), while out of untrained person 65.71% already had knowledge about PPEs which is statistically significant. Departments which always use PPEs are emergency (50%) followed by pathology (16.6%) and Neurosurgery (13.3%) which is statistically significant. Those who frequently use PPEs, 89.6% had knowledge while 10.4% did not have. 85.4% of paramedical staff change gloves between procedures on same patient. Non availabilityof PPEs inhibit maximum percentage of Paramedical staffs 72% towards use of PPEs followed by lack of information and education 12% and uncomfortable PPEs 5%.Conclusions: Proper training should be provided to healthcare workers for universal precaution. Information about universal precaution can be spread in the form of posters in different wards.

Lesions of Tongue : A Five Year Experience.

Context: Tongue lesions are quite common and affect both genders and all age groups. However, very few studies concentrate on the histopathological spectrum of tongue lesions, usually including them as a part of oral cavity lesions. No such study has been published from the newly formed state of Uttarakhand. Aim: A retrospective review of histopathology of various types of tongue lesions in different age groups of both genders, amongst cases reported in the department of pathology. Methods and Materials: Study included a total of 121 cases of tongue lesions reported in the histopathology section over a duration of five years, from July 2004 to June 2009. Result: In this study, the most common lesions were malignant (58.7%), followed by benign lesions (33%) and pre-malignant lesions (8.3%). The most common site for tongue lesions was base of tongue (52.8%). Common age groups affected were 41- 50 years (27.2%) and 51-60 years (28.0%). The most common clinical presentation was growth and induration. Overall males were affected more than females; with Male:Female ratio of 3.3:1. Conclusions: The commonest tongue lesion in this study was moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma among the malignant lesions whereas chronic inflammation was the commonest out of non-malignant lesions. Tongue may show some less common tumours like schwannoma and hemangioma etc.

Myocardial Infarction Associated with Plasmodium Falciparum Malarial Infection.

Cardiac functions are almost well preserved in malarial infection. We report a rare case with fatal complication of myocardial infarction in patient with delayed diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum infection. The authors therefore, suggest that every case of fever especially if associated with risk factor for cardiovascular disease should be immediately investigated for malaria so as to prevent this grave complication. This is even more important for people living in malarial endemic areas.