SENSITIVITY PATTERNS OF PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA ISOLATES OBTAINED FROM CLINICAL SPECIMENS IN PESHAWAR.

BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a highly virulent opportunistic pathogen and a leading cause of nosocomial infections. Affected patients are often hospitalized in an intensive care unit, and are immuno-compromised as a result of disease and treatment. Suspected P. aeruginosa require timely, adequate and empirical antibiotic therapy to ensure improved outcomes. The purpose of the study was to find the sensitivity and resistance pattern of P. aeruginosa to various groups of drugs, in clinical isolates collected from two major tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar. METHODS: Different clinical isolate were taken from patients admitted in various wards of Khyber Teaching Hospital and Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. RESULTS: A total of 258 clinical isolates were positive for P. aeruginosa out of 2058 clinical isolates. Pseudomonas showed high degree of resistance to third generation Cephalosporins (Ceftazidime, and Ceftriaxone) and moderate degree of resistance to Quinolones and Aminoglycosides (Ofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin and Amikacin). Low resistance was observed to different combinations (Cefoperazone+Sulbactum, Piperacillin+Tazobactum). Meropenem and Imipenem had negligible resistance. CONCLUSION: There is growing resistance to different classes of antibiotics. Combination drugs are useful approach for empirical treatment in suspected Pseudomonas infection. Imipenem and Meropenem are extremely effective but should be in reserve.

RATE AND INDICATIONS OF ELECTIVE AND EMERGENCY CAESAREAN SECTION; A STUDY IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF PESHAWAR.

BACKGROUND: The study was conducted to determine the rate and clinical indications for emergency and elective caesarean section. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted from December 2010 to January 2011 in Gynaecology unit-A of Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. Consecutive patients who gave birth in the hospital during the study period were included in the study. There were a total of 966 patients. Mode of delivery and basic demographics of the patients who underwent elective and emergency caesarean section were noted down. Clinical indications were recorded. RESULTS: Out of 966 patients, 210 underwent caesarean section. Therefore, the rate of caesarean section was 21.7 per 100. Among those 78% (n=164) were emergency caesarean sections and others were elective caesarean sections. Top six indicators for caesarean sections were foetal distress 17.1% (n=36), obstructive labour/failure to progress 16.1% (n=34), previous caesarean section 15.2% (n=32), breech presentation 9.5% (n=20), cephalopelvic disproportion 6.1% (n=13), failed induction 5.7% (n=12) and pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) 5.7% (n=12). CONCLUSION: The rate of caesarean section was only slightly higher than recommended by the WHO. Most of caesarean sections were emergency caesarean sections.

Cataract: trends in surgical procedures and visual outcomes; a study in a tertiary care hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the current procedures in practice and visual outcome following a cataract surgery. METHODS: The study was conducted from January 7 to April 7, 2011 in the Eye Unit of the Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, involving 181 patients. Basic demographics of the patients as well as the type of cataract surgery were noted. Risk factors like diabetes mellitus and glaucoma were also noted for each patient. A pre-operative visual acuity was determined. The patient was examined after two months to determine the visual improvement. RESULTS: Out of 181 patients, 117 were males and 64 were females. Age ranged from 5 years to 83 years with a median age of 60. Most common procedure performed (60.2%) was extra capsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lense (ECCE), followed by Phacoemulsification (24.3%). Visual outcome was good in 88.3%, borderline in 8.3% and poor in 3.3% patients. The main reasons for poor visual outcomes were diabetic retinopathy 42.8%, glaucoma-related vision loss 19.0%, history of trauma with retinal detachment 9.5%, and age-related macular degeneration 9.5%. Poor visual outcome was found in diabetic and Glaucoma patients. Surgical complications (3.8%) were rare. CONCLUSION: Overall a good visual outcome was noted in cataract surgery, which was similar to World Health Organisation guidelines. Extra capsular cataract extraction was the most common procedure followed by Phacoemulsification.

Coverage and causes of missed oral polio vaccine in urban and rural areas of Peshawar.

BACKGROUND: Poliomyelitis mainly affects children under five years of age. Pakistan is one of the few countries where wild polio is still endemic. The purpose of this study was to find out the coverage rate and factors associated with the failure of OPV in urban and rural areas of Peshawar. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Peshawar. Data was collected through random sampling in Peshawar University, Peshawar Saddar, Hashtnagri, Naway Kalay and Pawaka from 9th to 19th June 2010. A questionnaire was used to interview parents of 548 children, aged four years and below, about demographics, OPV vaccination status, reasons for missed vaccination and views on immunization and EPI staff. Forty workers from immunization staff were also interviewed through a separate questionnaire to find out factors associated with low OPV coverage. Chi-square test was used for statistical testing and p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Only 64.2% children were completely vaccinated, 13.3 % not vaccinated at all, and 22.4% were incompletely vaccinated. The reasons for not vaccinating were lack of awareness (23.8%), family problem/mother busy (20.8%), centre too far (21.3%), wrong ideas (10.2%), fear of reaction (7.6%), child ill (5.6%) and miscellaneous causes (10.6%). The problems faced by the EPI staff were lack of awareness among people (32.5%), load shedding (20.0%), poor transport facilities (10.0%), unavailability of vaccines (10.0%) and insecurity (10.0%). CONCLUSION: Low vaccination coverage in Peshawar is mainly due to low awareness among people, poor economic conditions and poor salaries, insecurity and transport problems faced by the immunization staff.

Inequity in childhood immunization between urban and rural areas of Peshawar.

BACKGROUND: Purpose of this study was to find coverage of vaccines in EPI and compare the factors related to vaccine failure or missed vaccination in urban and rural areas of Peshawar. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in Urban and rural of Peshawar from 20th to 31st of June 2010. A questionnaire was used to interview parents of 548 children, aged 1 year and below, about demographics, vaccination status, reasons for missed vaccination and views on immunization. Results from both urban and rural areas were compared to find the impact of different factors on immunization failure. RESULTS: The immunization coverage in urban areas was 76.5% while in rural areas it was 48.8%. Causes for non immunization were different in urban and rural areas. In urban areas, lack of awareness and care takers/parents being busy were the main reason for non immunization. In rural areas, in addition to formers, lack of accessibility to health centres and misconceptions about vaccination were major reasons for non-immunization. Parents were more educated in urban areas than rural areas. CONCLUSION: Rural areas had a lower immunization rates due to lack of awareness, low accessibility and much lower education of parents.

Coverage and causes of missed Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccination in urban and rural areas of Peshawar.

BACKGROUND: Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Pakistan. Hib vaccine was introduced in 2009 in EPI programme. The purpose of this study was to find out the coverage and factors associated with non-immunization of Hib in urban and rural areas of Peshawar. METHODS: Data was collected through random sampling in Peshawar University, Peshawar Saddar, Hashtnagri, Naway Kalay and Pawaka from 9th to 19th of June 2010. A questionnaire was used to interview parents of 600 children aged 1 year and below about demographics, Hib vaccination status, reasons for missed vaccination and views on immunization. Pearson's Chi-square test was used for statistical testing, and p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Completely vaccinated children were 64.2%, 25% not vaccinated at all, and 11% were incompletely vaccinated. The reasons for not vaccinating were lack of awareness (26%), family problem/mother busy (18%), centre too far (16.9%), wrong ideas (12.2%), fear of reaction (5.4%), child illness (8.1%) and miscellaneous causes (13.7%). CONCLUSION: Low Hib vaccination coverage in Peshawar is mainly due to low awareness among people, poor economic conditions and illiteracy.

Coverage and factors associated with tetanus toxoid vaccination among married women of reproductive age: a cross sectional study in Peshawar.

BACKGROUND: Pakistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with widely prevalent maternal and neonatal tetanus. The purpose of this study was to estimate the coverage and determine the factors associated with tetanus toxoid vaccination status among females of reproductive age in Peshawar. METHODS: A Cross-sectional study was conducted in Peshawar, Pakistan, from 9 June to 19 June 2010. A total of 304 females of reproductive age (17 45) years were selected from both urban and rural areas of Peshawar through random sampling. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was administered to females. Questions about demographics, income, education of husband, occupation, accessibility to health centres and frequency of visits from health workers was inquired. Knowledge and views on immunization were also asked. RESULTS: Overall 55.6% were vaccinated. Urban population was 54.3% while rural population was 45.7%. Reasons for not vaccinating were: No awareness (38.4%), being busy (18.1%), centre too far (18.1%), misconceptions (10.86%), and fear of reactions (4.3%). Most of the females thought immunization was effective (89.5%). Husband education, females' knowledge and views on immunization, income, distance, frequency of health visits were the main factors associated with immunization status. CONCLUSION: Majority of females are not vaccinated. Effective media campaigns on maternal tetanus vaccination should be carried. Lady health workers should be mobilised effectively to increase the vaccination coverage.