RESUMO
Background: In the cultural context of India, informal caregiving stands as the foremost form of support to the elderly. This study investigates the status of caregiver burden and it’s psychological impact on informal caregivers of bedridden elderly in rural north Kerala, India. The study also delves into the socio-demographic factors associated with caregiver burden as well as psychological distress among family caregivers. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study. The data was collected from (n=120) caregivers using the burden assessment scale and psychological distress assessment scale. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistical tests were employed in this study. Results: The study results reveal that female informal caregivers experience a higher caregiver burden compared to the male counterpart. Most caregivers experience mild to moderate levels of burden and significant levels of stress anxiety and depression. Caregiver burden has a significant difference with the type of relationship with the care recipient and duration of care. Conclusions: This study implies that there is a need for multifaceted interventions to alleviate the caregiver burden and address the psychological manifestations among caregivers.
RESUMO
Background: Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest threats in human health. Extended spectrum ? lactamases mediated resistance is prevalent worldwide, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli leap out as this significant ESBL producers conferring resistance to the expanded spectrum cephalosporins. Colistin is being administered as last line therapy for patients that have failed to respond to other available antibiotics that are active against Gram-negative bacteria. Methods: The present study was conducted at school of medical education Kottayam, Kerala from January 2023 to November 2023.During the period of study 150 isolates of K. pneumoniae and 136 isolates of E. coli were collected from various diagnostic microbiology laboratories in Kerala. The colistin susceptibility pattern of ESBL producing isolates was detected by broth disc elution method recommended by CLSI. Results: In this study prevalence of multi-drug resistant is 6% and 9.6% and Extensively-drug resistant is 62% and 63.9% for K. pneumoniae and E. coli respectively. ESBL production was detected as 72% in K. pneumoniae and 79% in E. coli. The colistin susceptibility pattern of ESBL producing K. pneumoniae and E. coli was detected as 76.9% and 87.9% respectively Conclusions: Our result demonstrated that the recent use of colistin as last resort treatment for extensively drug resistant gram-negative bacilli, it is essential to know the prevalence of susceptibility pattern to this antibiotic.
RESUMO
Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is suspected to be currently under-diagnosed in India, thus the need for a brief, effective screening test for the condition. Aims: We aimed to test the Malayalam translation of the 7-Minute Screen (7MS) for detecting those at high risk for AD and to report on the subscores used to derive the Alzheimer's risk score. Setting and Design: This study was performed in Kerala State amongst young university students and elders in residential care homes. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and eighty-two volunteers were tested, 178 young controls (aged 20-29) and 104 literate elders, (55-92 years). None were clinically diagnosed with AD. Statistical Analyses: Elders and controls were assessed as High or Low AD Risk with the published 7MS algorithm. Performance was compared between groups with ANOVA. Results: The algorithm estimated high (n = 61/104) or low (n = 40/104) AD risk in the elderly. Significant differences were found between controls, low- and high-risk groups on all four components of the screen (Orientation: F = 131.1, Enhanced Cued Recall: F = 23.4, Clock Drawing: F = 65.1, Verbal Fluency: F = 15.7, P P Conclusions: The 7MS may be a useful screening test for cognitive impairment in India. Suggestions are given for revising the 'risk algorithm' for more appropriate AD risk assessment in this population.