RESUMO
Background: Antibiotic resistance is rising to alarming levels that necessitates the evaluation of prescription patterns for the rational use of antibiotics. Hence this study was conducted to evaluate antibiotic use in a government run general hospital.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted to evaluate the rationality of antimicrobial prescription in a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a government run tertiary care teaching hospital using the USAID indicators for rational use of antibiotics. Case records of 104 patients were documented and analysed.Results: The most common antimicrobials prescribed were 3rd generation Cephalosporins namely Ceftriaxone, followed by Aminoglycosides (Amikacin), Imipenams (Meropenam), Anti-Influenza Antiviral (Oseltamivir) and Oxazolidinones (Linezolid). A common trend of antibiotic overuse emerged due to paucity of resources to support decision making and choice of antibiotic. This led to patients being exposed to a high number of antibiotics with an associated increase in morbidity.Conclusions: Antibiotic resistance would remain a challenge until systems for rapid, precise and low cost detection of the causative micro-organisms and antibiotic sensitivity are developed, surveillance systems are increased and antibiotic stewardship programs are enforced.
RESUMO
Background: The objective is to evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of nitrendipine in seizure-induced mice. Methods: Albino mice (25-30 g) of either sex were randomly selected and divided into four groups of six mice each. After overnight fasting, Group I received 0.25 ml of propylene glycol and served as the control, Group II received valproic acid (110 mg/kg orally) as standard, Groups III received 5 mg/kg of nitrendipine and 100 mg/kg of valproic acid, Group IV received 5 mg/kg of nitrendipine and 75 mg/kg of valproic acid, and Group V received 5 mg/kg of nitrendipine and 50 mg/kg of valproic acid all of which were administered orally 60 mins prior to the test in this acute study. The anticonvulsant activity was screened using maximal electroshock (MES) model and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) model. Results: The nitrendipine showed a considerable reduction in the duration of hindlimb extensor phase in MES model and also delayed the latency of seizures induced by PTZ when compared with control group. The probable mechanism of anticonvulsant action of nitrendipine could be due to its interference with the gamma amino butyric acid type aminergic mechanism, modulation of nicotinic, and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Conclusion: Nitrendipine possesses the anticonvulsant activity and has a beneficial role in epilepsy.