Assessment of Knowledge Regarding Antibiotic Use, its Resistance, and Future Consequences among Higher Secondary Students in Private Schools of Kathmandu Valley

Antimicrobial resistance poses a growing threat to public health, as infections from resistant strains of microbial become increasingly difficult and expensive to treat, resulting in prolonged illness and greater risk of death. A cross-sectional descriptive study was done among 471 higher secondary level students of private schools in Kathmandu Valley. Data were collected from Grade 11 and 12 non-science faculty students through self-administered questionnaires. Half (50.5%) of the students gave correct response by saying that antibiotic kills bacteria and 49.1% said that it is for fever. Majority (93.0%) of them said that it should be taken with water. Regarding the response on when to stop taking antibiotic, 46.9% said correctly by saying when all prescribed medicines are taken whereas and 40.8% said that after feeling better. More than half (58.8%) of the students had not heard about antibiotic resistance, whereas those who have heard among them 24% of students said that they had heard from doctor and nurses and 21.8% from family member and friends. Nearly one-third (32.7%) of students knew that antibiotic resistance occurs using antibiotic when they are not necessary. Regarding the response on consequences of antibiotic resistance, more than one-third (38.2%) of students gave correct answer. Nearly half of the students have lack of knowledge about antibiotic. Thus, it is imperative to create awareness among students by introducing a specific course on antibiotic in the 9th and 10th grade core curriculum to prevent antibiotic resistance and its consequences.

Antinociceptive effect of amitriptyline in mice of acute pain models.

Tricyclic antidepressant drugs induce antinociceptive effect and suggest that their analgesic action could be related to the monoaminergic activity of the drugs. The analgesic activity of amitriptyline was observed in mouse models of acute pain. Mice were divided into different groups and were given amitriptyline in different doses alone and in combination with morphine. Reaction time in Hot-Plate and Tail-Flick tests was observed. Results showed that amitriptyline had antinociceptive effect in acute pain state in experimental models. Amitriptyline in combination with morphine had better analgesic effect than the morphine alone in Hot-Plate test.