Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal [2023; Vol.29, Issue 8]

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal is the official health journal published by the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office of the World Health Organization. It is a forum for the presentation and promotion of new policies and initiatives in health services; and for the exchange of ideas concepts epidemiological data research findings and other information with special reference to the Eastern Mediterranean Region. It addresses all members of the health profession medical and other health educational institutes interested NGOs WHO Collaborating Centres and individuals within and outside the Region

المجلة الصحية لشرق المتوسط هى المجلة الرسمية التى تصدرعن المكتب الاقليمى لشرق المتوسط بمنظمة الصحة العالمية. وهى منبر لتقديم السياسات والمبادرات الجديدة فى الصحة العامة والخدمات الصحية والترويج لها، و لتبادل الاراء و المفاهيم والمعطيات الوبائية ونتائج الابحاث وغير ذلك من المعلومات، و خاصة ما يتعلق منها باقليم شرق المتوسط. وهى موجهة الى كل اعضاء المهن الصحية، والكليات الطبية وسائر المعاهد التعليمية، و كذا المنظمات غير الحكومية المعنية، والمراكز المتعاونة مع منظمة الصحة العالمية والافراد المهتمين بالصحة فى الاقليم و خارجه

La Revue de Santé de la Méditerranée Orientale est une revue de santé officielle publiée par le Bureau régional de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé pour la Méditerranée orientale. Elle offre une tribune pour la présentation et la promotion de nouvelles politiques et initiatives dans le domaine de la santé publique et des services de santé ainsi qu’à l’échange d’idées de concepts de données épidémiologiques de résultats de recherches et d’autres informations se rapportant plus particulièrement à la Région de la Méditerranée orientale. Elle s’adresse à tous les professionnels de la santé aux membres des instituts médicaux et autres instituts de formation médico-sanitaire aux ONG Centres collaborateurs de l’OMS et personnes concernés au sein et hors de la Région

Epidemiology of hospitalized female burns patients in a burn centre in Shiraz

During 2000 to 2001, all 170 female burn patients admitted to the Ghotbeddin burn centre in Shiraz were studied to determine the epidemiological characteristics and outcome of burn for these patients. The overall mortality rate was 64%. The highest frequency of burns [53.5%] occurred among 16-25-year-olds. The commonest cause of burn was flame [98.2%]. The mean [SD] length of hospital stay was 13 [14.3] days. Mean [SD] of total body surface area [TBSA] burned among all patients was 56% [28.5%]; among those who survived it was 29% [13.4%] and among those who died it was 72% [21.7%]. The relation between TBSA and mortality was statistically significant

Home accidents in rural and urban areas of Shiraz, 2000-02

Data on home accidents for a 3-year period [2000-2002] were collected from health houses, health centres and hospitals involved in a home accident prevention programme in Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran. A total of 15 402 accidents were registered, with a mortality rate of 1.3%. Accidents were more common in women than in men [52.1% versus 47.9%] and urban than rural areas [66.3% versus 33.7%]. Burns [66.5%], followed by injuries due to sharp objects [11.3%] were the most common causes. Accidents were more prevalent in children aged under 5 years, followed by 5-9 and 15-19 years of age

Burn and scald injuries

Burns are one of the most harmful physical and psychological traumas. Infection is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in burns. Infections acquired from hospital or from the patient's own endogenous flora have a significant prevalence after burns. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are the most frequent colonizing agents whereas group A beta-haemolytic streptococci are the most virulent bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria and fungi are also prevalent. Viral infection is less frequent. Aggressive resuscitation, nutritional support, thorough surgical excision of infected wounds, early wound closure, grafting and the development of effective topical and systemic chemotherapy have largely improved morbidity and mortality rates of burn patients

Audit of paediatric surgical intensive care unit admissions in north Jordan

An audit was carried out over a 12-month period at a district general hospital in the north of Jordan. The study aimed to establish the reasons for and outcome of paediatric intensive care unit admissions. Of the 854 admissions, 107 were paediatric surgical cases. The causes of trauma were: road traffic accident [42 cases], burns [35] and falls [18]. The remaining 12 cases were either post-operative admissions [7 cases] or acute admissions [5 cases]. A total of 31 patients died and 8 children were left with significant disability or brain death. We conclude that trauma is a significant cause of disability, morbidity and mortality in children in our area. Society as a whole needs to look at the causes of childhood trauma and identify ways of reducing it

Predictive models for mortality and length of hospital stay in an Egyptian burns centre

Our aim was to obtain a statistical profile of survivors and deaths among burn victims and to develop predictive models for mortality and length of hospital stay. All patients admitted to the Burns Unit of Alexandria Main University Hospital over a 1-year period were included. Of 533 cases, mean length of hospital stay was 15.5 +/- 21.6 days and the mortality rate was 33%. Total surface area burnt, inhalation burns, age, sex, depth and degree of burn wounds were the significant independent predictors of mortality in multiple logistic regression analysis. The significant independent predictors of the length of hospital stay were clothing ignition, total surface area burnt, sex, degree and depth of burn and inhalation burns

Fungal infection of burn wounds in patients with open and occlusive treatment methods

Fungal infection of burn wounds was investigated in a prospective study of 130 patients managed either with open or occlusive treatment methods. In all, 30 fungal isolates were recovered from 26 patients all of whom had bacterial infection also, except for one patient. The predominant fungi recovered were Aspergillus spp. and Candida spp. Fungal infection was more common in patients treated with open dressing [25.5%] than occlusive dressing [16.0%]. Fungal culture from tissue specimens gave a better isolation rate of fungi than from cotton swab specimens

Epidemiological and sociocultural study of burn patients in Alexandria, Egypt

All burn cases admitted to the burns unit of Alexandria Main University Hospital over a period of one year were investigated. Burns were found to occur in younger age groups. There was an almost equal distribution of cases by sex, but when stratified by age, more females were found in most age groups. Most burns were domestic, with cooking being the most prevalent activity. Flame was the most common agent. Death occurred in about one-third of cases; when using logistic regression analysis, the outcome of the burn injury was significantly associated with age, sex, total surface area burnt and degree and depth of the burn