RESUMO
Introduction :Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) is a major public health concern that is linked to a high mortality rate in children under the age of five. Government of Gujarat has expanded treatment network from government facilities to private institutions and non-governmental organizations through various initiative in an effort to address the issue of SAM. To assess the treatment outcome among SAMObjective: children (0-5 years) admitted at Niramay Bal Poshan Kendra, Jam Khambhalia, Devbhumi Dwarka District of Gujarat. A longitudinal study was conducted among SAM children admitted at he Niramay BalMethod: t Poshan Kendra (Public Private Partnership model under Bal Poshan Yojana) which is a day care center providing treatment to SAM children for 14 days according to the protocol of NRC (Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre). Under Bal Poshan Yojana, RBSK medical officers screen children for SAM and refer them for treatment at empanelled NGO/Private institution. Total 1557 under five children were screened by them between 6 September 2021 and 5 February 2022. Out of them 121 SAM children were identified, 95th th children could be mobilized at the study site (Niramay Bal Poshan Kendra). Out of 95 children, 76 SAM children completed the treatment along with all three follow up at the study site. The data of these 76 Children was analyzed. Among 76 children, average weight gain was 566 grams at the time ofResults: discharge and 1000 grams at the time of third follow-up. An average weight gain for the cohort is 5.2 gram/kg/day. At the end of treatment, 92% children moved out of the SAM category at the completion of three follow-up, 55% moved to Moderate Acute Malnutrition and 37% to normal weight category. Conclusion: An average weight gain among the study population was satisfactory. Day care treatment model provides advantage of improved treatment completion rate and higher follow-up com
RESUMO
Aim: Hand hygiene has now been recognised as one of the most effective intervention to control the transmission of infections in a hospital and education is an important tool to ensure its implementation. In order to convince the users and as a part of education, it is important to generate evidence on the role of hand hygiene in reducing the bacterial fl ora on their hands. The present study was undertaken in a tertiary care hospital to demonstrate the presence of bacterial fl ora on the hands of healthcare workers (HCW) in different categories, to teach them proper hand hygiene technique using alcohol-based hand rub and determine the outcome for reduction of bacteria. Materials and Methods: A total sample size of 60 subjects including resident doctors, medical students, nurses and hospital attendants were included in the study after obtaining informed consent. Each person was educated on the technique of hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rub and hand impressions were cultured before and after hand hygiene. All the subjects were also given a questionnaire to assess their perception on hand hygiene. The WHO posters on proper hand hygiene were displayed in the appropriate areas of the hospital in addition, as an educational tool. Results: Majority (42 out of 60) of the HCWs had bacterial count up to 100 colonies or more on both hands before the application of hand rub while working in the hospital. After use of alcohol hand rub with a proper hand hygiene technique, it was found that the percentage reduction was 95-99% among doctors and nurses, 70% among hospital attendants and 50% among sanitary attendants. Staphylococcus aureus was present on the hands of eight persons of which three were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that transient bacteria are present on the hands of HCWs but majority could be removed by proper hand hygiene, which needs continuous education to be effective. It also shows that active education by demonstrating the proper hand hygiene technique and direct observation of the practices, though demanding, are ideal to understand the attitudes and practices of HCWs and helps in planning implementation strategies
RESUMO
Objective: The diagnosis of enteric fever currently depends upon the isolation of Salmonella from a patient, most commonly by blood culture. This facility is not available in many areas where the disease is endemic. The Widal agglutination test which demonstrates the presence of somatic (O) and flagellar (H) agglutinins to Salmonella in the patient's serum using O and H antigen suspension is one of the most utilized diagnostic tests for typhoid fever in developing countries. In the recent past, a rapid slide test was developed which is now the most commonly used technique in local laboratories because of its convenience. The semi-quantitative slide test provides an approximation to the tube test titre. The present study was an attempt to compare the results of semi-quantitative slide agglutination with the quantitative tube method to ascertain any significant difference between two methods. Material and Methods: 300 precollected blood samples of OPD patients were collected over a period of 4 months and subjected to semi-quantitative rapid slide and quantitative tube Widal tests using commercially available Salmonella antigen test kits. Results: From the 300 samples studied, 17(5.7%) serum samples were positive by slide test method while 25(8.7%) seropositive by Tube test method. Present study shows, slight difference in the results obtained by the two methods of Widal test. Conclusion: The Tube Widal test is more sensitive and specific than slide Widal test, especially for rule out prozone phenomena, but slide Widal agglutination test is found to good alternative screening test because less time consuming, easy to perform, cost effective and can be applied in resource poor nations. There is an urgent need for the rational design and evaluation of effective and appropriate diagnostics for typhoid fever.