study of student's perceptions of blended learning in certificate courses of gulf medical university

Estimate students' perception of blended learning and ease of use of online content in blended learning courses and to correlate the perceptions with socio demographic variables. This cross sectional study was conducted at the Center for Continuing Education and Community Outreach [CCE and CO] Gulf Medical University during the period Jan 2013-Dec 2013.Student perceptions of blended learning process, content and ease of use were recorded from a total of 75 students enrolled in the certificate courses offered by CCE and CO using a questionnaire. Mann-Whitney-U-test was performed to see whether the gender affected the students' perceptions of blended learning. Kruskal- Wallis test was used to assess if perceptions differ significantly across different age categories and course of study. The median scores of all the questions in all three domains of perception were above 3 indicating positive perceptions of students regarding the process of blended learning, the blended learning content and the ease of use of online content. The distribution of perceptions regarding all 3 domains was the same across categories of gender and age. There was a significant difference in the distribution of perceptions across the different course of study the student was enrolled in. Students hold a positive perception of the blended learning courses being offered in GMU. The difference in perceptions among students of different courses indicates that the blended learning format offered needs modification according to course content to improve its perception

Prevalence of biofilm and betalactamase-producing staphylococcus in nasal and throat isolates from healthy volunteers: a medical alert

To study the prevalence of virulence factors such as Biofilm and Beta-lactamase in Staphylococcus isolates residing in nasal and throat mucosa in healthy volunteers. Nasal and throat swabs were taken from 100 healthy volunteers at Gulf Medical University and Gulf Medical College Hospital, Ajman, UAE, and cultured for Staphylococcus isolates on appropriate culture media. The isolate were classified as Staphylococcus aureus or Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus [CoNS] based on the growth characteristics on Mannitol Salt Agar and standard tube coagulase test. They were further tested for Biofilm production by Christensen's tissue culture plate and Congo red agar methods. The positive samples were identified for beta-lactamase by iodometric tube method. Of the 100 Staphylococcus isolates, 41 were Staphylococcus aureus of which 25 [61%] were positive for biofilm production whereas 19 [46.3%] were Beta-lactamase positive. Of the 16 [39%] biofilm negative Staphylococcus aureus isolates, 13 [31.7%] were Beta-lactamase positive. Among the 59 CoNS isolates, 38 [64.4%] were positive for biofilm production and 18[30.5%] were Beta-lactamase positive. Twenty one CoNS samples [35.5%] were negative for both biofilm and Beta-lactamase production. Biofilm production in Staphylococcus aureus and CoNS did not show any significant difference [61% and 64.4%]. Predominance of Staphylococcal isolation was in males between the age group of <20 years, mostly from the nasal site. Biofilm-producing Staphylococcus appear to inhabit the normal flora of the nasal and throat mucosa of healthy individuals. Beta-lactamase production was found to be higher in Staphylococcus aureus positive for biofilm producers as compared to CoNS. Transmission of these biofilm producers with drug resistance factors from the healthy individuals to those at risk, like patients on long term catheterization or with indwelling devices need to be considered

Prevalence of biofilm and betalactamase-producing staphylococcus in nasal and throat isolates from healthy volunteers: a medical alert

Objective: To study the prevalence of virulence factors such as Biofilm and Beta-lactamase in Staphylococcus isolates residing in nasal and throat mucosa in healthy volunteers

Materials and Methods: Nasal and throat swabs were taken from 100 healthy volunteers at Gulf Medical University and Gulf Medical College Hospital, Ajman, UAE, and cultured for Staphylococcus isolates on appropriate culture media. The isolate were classified as Staphylococcus aureus or Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus [CoNS] based on the growth characteristics on Mannitol Salt Agar and standard tube coagulase test. They were further tested for Biofilm production by Christensen's tissue culture plate and Congo red agar methods. The positive samples were identified for beta-lactamase by iodometric tube method

Results: Of the 100 Staphylococcus isolates, 41 were Staphylococcus aureus of which 25 [61%] were positive for biofilm production whereas 19 [46.3%] were Beta-lactamase positive. Of the 16 [39%] biofilm negative Staphylococcus aureus isolates, 13 [31.7%] were Beta-lactamase positive. Among the 59 CoNS isolates, 38 [64.4%] were positive for biofilm production and 18[30.5%] were Beta-lactamase positive

Twenty one CoNS samples [35.5%] were negative for both biofilm and Beta-lactamase production. Biofilm production in Staphylococcus aureus and CoNS did not show any significant difference [61% and 64.4%]. Predominance of Staphylococcal isolation was in males between the age group of <20 years, mostly from the nasal site

Conclusion: Biofilm-producing Staphylococcus appear to inhabit the normal flora of the nasal and throat mucosa of healthy individuals. Beta-lactamase production was found to be higher in Staphylococcus aureus positive for biofilm producers as compared to CoNS. Transmission of these biofilm producers with drug resistance factors from the healthy individuals to those at risk, like patients on long term catheterization or with indwelling devices need to be considered