Frequency Of Panton Valentine Leucocidin Gene In Staphylococcus Aureus From Skin And Soft Tissue Infections.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus harbouring Panton Valentine Leucocidin gene are emerging and spreading worldwide. PVL gene was first identified by Noel Panton and Francis Valentine in 1932 who explained its ability to lyse leucocytes and its main relationship with skin and soft tissue infections. In Pakistan only limited data is available on the frequency and molecular analysis of PVL gene positive Staph aureus. Therefore, this study was conducted to understand the clinical epidemiology of PVL positive Staph aureus in our setup. Objectives of the study was aimed to determine the frequency of PVL gene in Staph aureus obtained from pus samples from skin and soft tissue infections from various departments; indoor and outdoor of a tertiary care hospital of Lahore. METHODS: 384 Staph aureus isolates from skin and soft tissue infections were selected from both indoor and outdoor departments of hospital. After identification by phenotypic methods, they were processed by PCR using luk-F and luk-S primers for the detection of PVL gene. RESULTS: 186 out of 384 Staph aureus isolates were positive for PVL gene. Overall frequency of PVL gene was 49%. Frequency of PVL gene in Staph aureus was 44.9% in males and 53.5% in females. The highest frequency of PVL gene was detected in paediatric age group. A large majority of positive isolates were from pus samples other than swabs and from the general surgery department. They mostly belong to indoor with indoor outdoor ratio of approximately 2:1. Frequencies of PVL gene in MRSA and MSSA were 51% and 44% respectively. Frequency of PVL gene was found to be high in Ciprofloxacin sensitive, Gentamicin sensitive, Erythromycin resistant and Fusidic acid resistant isolates. CONCLUSION: Almost half of Staph aureus isolates were found PVL positive. They were mostly multidrug resistant came from indoor setup. This situation is very alarming so, there is a need to adopt strict infection control policies in the hospitals to limit the widespread and injudicious use of antibiotics. There is also a need to apply PVL positive Staph aureus treatment to the effected individuals which involve not only antibiotics but also the decolonization of effected individuals and their close contacts.

Multitasking a telemedicine training unit in earthquake disaster response: paraplegic rehabilitation assessment.

The objective of this work was to provide computer and telecommunications skill training for paraplegics using a telemedicine training center in a curriculum that would support connectivity and offer new skills for career applications in the rehabilitation phase and beyond. This was a hospital-based, cross-sectional study. The study was conducted from October 10, 2005 to May 10, 2006 in the hospitals of Rawalpindi Medical College and the Melody Rehabilitation Center, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. These centers provided care for casualties of the October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan. One hundred and ninety four (194) paraplegics were admitted to Rawalpindi Medical College allied hospitals after injuries in the rural mountains near the epicenter. Surveys assessed the education level of the patients, and a sample of 12 patients was enrolled in computer training classes. Of the 194 patients, 144 were female and 50 were male. The majority, 78% (151) were 16-39 years of age. Although only 60% were literate, the overall literacy rate of Pakistan is just 48.7%. Telephone service at home was available after discharge for 40% of patients. Only 8% of patients had basic computer skills. All patients participated in the survey and sought to take the course. All the enrolled patients demonstrated full competency in the skills taught. The social disruption of disaster plus the new challenge of a neurological deficit in paraplegia did not deter a remarkable number of patients from a rural area from engaging in computer and telemedicine training. This study demonstrated the feasibility of educating rural paraplegics in computer skills for telemedicine. The telemedicine training center was used for this task without special equipment or personnel, thereby increasing the utilization of the facility.

Complications in patients with spinal cord injuries sustained in an earthquake in Northern Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating trauma suffered by many of the victims of an earthquake that struck Northern Pakistan on October 8, 2005. It rendered approximately 600 patients paraplegic, which is the highest number ever reported in any disaster. This study was conducted to evaluate the risk of complications. METHODS: The cross-sectional retrospective study covering a 2-month period was conducted on 194 patients admitted to the surgical/neurosurgical wards of Rawalpindi Medical College and allied hospitals (Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi General Hospital, and District Headquarter Hospital) and Melody Relief and Rehabilitation Center, Islamabad. RESULTS: The male-to-female ratio was approximately 1:3 (n = 50 [26%] and n = 144 [74%], respectively). The majority (78% [n = 151]) were 16 to 39 years of age; 62% (n = 120) had lumbar-level injuries, 25% (n = 48) had thoracic-level injuries, 9% (n = 18) had thoracolumbar-level injuries, and a few had cervical- or sacral-level injuries. Forty-six percent (n = 90) had American Spinal Injury Association type A injuries; 4% (n = 8) were graded B, 11% (n = 21) were graded C, 9% (n = 18) were graded D, and 14% (n = 27) were graded E. Twenty percent (n = 39) developed pressure ulcers, of which 38% (n = 15) had grade 1, 36% (n = 14) had grade 2, 23% (n = 9) had grade 3, and 3% (n = 1) had grade 4. All patients developed urinary tract infections; 15% (n = 30) had bowel complaints; 2% (n = 3) developed deep-vein thrombosis (1 died of pulmonary embolism); and 0.05% (n = 1) developed wound infection. CONCLUSION: Awareness of potential complications in patients with paraplegia is essential to care planning in the disaster setting. The priorities include skin, bowel, and bladder care and provision of prophylactic heparin. SCI post-disaster care requires comprehensive long-term planning.

Complications in Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries Sustained in an Earthquake in Northern Pakistan

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is devastating trauma suffered by many of the victims of an earthquake that struck Northern Pakistan on October 8, 2005. It rendered approximately 600 patients paraplegic, which is the highest number ever reported in any disaster. This study was conducted to evaluate the risk of complications. Methods: The cross-sectional restrospective study covering a 2-month perido was conducted on 194 patients admitted to the surgical/neurosugical wards of Rawalpindi Medical College and allied hospitals (Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi General Hospital, and District Headquarter Hospital) and Melody Relief and Rehabilitation Center, Islamabad. Results: The male-to-male ratio was approximately 1:3 (n=50 [26%] and n=144 [74%], respectivily). The majority (78% [ n=151]) were 16 to 39 years of age; 62% (n=120) had lumbar-injuries, 25% (n=48) had thoracic-level-injuries, 9% (n=18) had thoracolumbar-level injuries, and a few had cervical - or sacral-level-injuries. Forty six percent (n=90) had American Spinal Injury Association type A injuries; 4% (n=8) were graded B, 11% (n=21) were graded C, 95 (n=18) were graded D, and 14% (n=27) were graded E. Twenty percent (n=39) developed pressure ulcers, of which 38% (n=15) had grade, 1, 36% (n=14) had grade 2, 23% (n=29) had grade 3, and 3% (n=1) had grade 4. All patients developed urinary tract infections; 15% (n=30) had bowel complaints; 2% (n=3) developed deep-vein thrombosis (1 died of pulmonary embolism); and 0.05% (n=1) developed wound infection. Conclusion: Awareness of potential complications in patients with paraplegia is essential to care planning in the disaster setting. The priorities include skin, bowel, and bladder care and provision of prophylactic heparin. SCI post-disaster care requires comprehensive long-term planning. (AU)