Epidemiology of gastro-oesphageal reflux disease [symptom-based criteria] in a rural area in Assiut governorate

GERD is one of the commonest upper gastrointestinal disorders. When defined as at least weekly heartburn and / or acid regurgitation, the prevalence in the western world generally ranges between 10% and 20% whereas in Asia the prevalence is reported to be less than 5%. There is a trend for the prevalence in North America to be higher than that in Europe, and a trend is also suggested for a higher prevalence in Northern over Southern Europe. The situation in Africa is unclear, so we designed this epidemiological study in a rural area of Assiut governorate, Egypt. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of GERD symptoms and related risk factors. A cross-sectional community-based study was carried out in Ezbet Fath El-Bab, Mankabad village. A total of at least 300 houses were visited A well designed questionnaire was used for data collections, 393 persons [197 males and 196 females] were included in the study. The prevalence of at least weekly heartburn was 7.12% and the prevalence of weekly acid regurgitation was 2.03%. 58.8% of subjects with heartburn were males, while 44.7% of subjects with acid regurgitation were males. Logistic regression analysis for risk factors related to heartburn revealed that only smoking [P< 0.001] and psychosomatic condition [P< 0.001] were significantly related Logistic regression analysis for risk factors related to regurgitation revealed that only psychosomatic condition was significantly related From this study, we concluded that the prevalence of GERD symptoms in Egypt is less than that reported in western world and is in accordance to that reported in China and Asia. Smoking and the psychosomatic condition were significantly related to heartburn while psychosomatic condition only was significantly related to acid regurgitation

epidemiological study of nosocomial infections in surgical departments in Assiut University Hospitals

Nosocomical infection is a localized of systemic condition that results from adverse reactions to the presence of an infectious agents[s] or its toxin[s] that was not present or incubating at the time of admission to the hospital [CDS, 2003]. Nosocomial infection usually appears three days after a patient is admitted to a hospital or other health-cure facility. One third of all nosocomial infections are preventable. We determine the incidence of nosocomial infection among the studied patients and the risk factors of nosocomial infection among them. The study was a hospital-based prospective study conducted for one year in Neurosurgery Department and unit Cl from General Surgery Department at Assiut University Hospitals. The total number of patients that was enrolled in the study 1377 patients. Data collection through personal interviews with all patients admitted in the selected departments immediately after admission. Daily follow up of these patients to detect the development of nosocomial infection. The incidence rate of nosocomial infection was 15% Nosocomial infection was higher among rural than urban residents with significant difference. According to the wards, unit Cl, Neurosurgery Department and Neurosurgery ICU, it was 48.5%, 29.4%, 22.2% respectively. 94.7% of patients undergo operations, 99.5% of patients exposed to invasive devices and 61.0% of patients with contaminated wounds acquired infection. The incidence of nosocomial infection increased significantly with those exposed to general anesthesia, trauma, multiple procedures, implants and complicated surgery. As regard the type of organisms, Klebsiella was the most common organism followed by E.coli and Enterococci then proteus [28.0%, 16.0% and 14.0%] respectively