Antibiotic Practices, Perceptions and Self-Medication Among Patients at a National Referral Hospital in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health concern with increasing reports of microorganisms resistant to most of the available antibiotics. There are limited data on antibiotic practices, perceptions and self-medication among Ugandans, necessitating this study. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients at Kiruddu National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. A pre-tested interviewer administered a questionnaire that was used to collect data after an informed consent. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to assess associations between outcome and exposure variables. A P<0.05 was statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 279 patients (response rate=71%) with a median age of 32 years participated in the study. The majority were females (55.6%, n=155) and from the outpatient department (74.9%, n=209). Overall, 212 (76%) participants had taken an antibiotic in the past 6 months, and some 22.2% (n=47) of the participants had practiced self-medication. Male participants (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=2.13, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.01 to 4.50, P=0.046) and Muslims (aOR=4.37, 96% CI:1.54 to 12.44, P=0.006) were more likely to self-medicate. Employees (aOR=0.06, 95% CI:0.01 to 0.51, P=0.010) and patients with tertiary education (aOR=0.14, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.81, P=0.028) were less likely to practice self-medication. About 33% (n=70) of the participants had not completed treatment dosage during their last course of antibiotic treatment because of feeling better (60%, n=42), lack of money to purchase the medication (15.7%, n=11) and side effects (10%, n=7). Whereas 169 participants (79.7%) believed that not completing treatment would have an impact on their personal health, only 96 participants (45.3%) believed that this behaviour could affect the health of others. CONCLUSION: Antibiotic misuse is significant among patients in Uganda. Continuous health education programs aimed at informing the public on antimicrobial resistance, and its dangers are recommended to curtail this challenge.

A Randomized Trial Comparing Bilateral Lateral Rectus Recession versus Unilateral Recess and Resect for Basic-Type Intermittent Exotropia.

PURPOSE: To compare long-term outcomes after bilateral lateral rectus recession (BLRc) or unilateral lateral rectus recession combined with medial rectus resection in the same eye (R&R) for primary treatment of childhood intermittent exotropia (IXT). DESIGN: Multicenter, randomized clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred ninety-seven children 3 to younger than 11 years of age with basic-type IXT, a largest deviation by prism and alternate cover test at any distance of 15 to 40 prism diopters (PD), and near stereoacuity of at least 400 seconds of arc. METHODS: Random assignment to BLRc or R&R and masked examinations conducted every 6 months after surgery for 3 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of participants meeting suboptimal surgical outcome by 3 years, defined as: (1) exotropia of 10 PD or more at distance or near using simultaneous prism and cover test (SPCT); or (2) constant esotropia of 6 PD or more at distance or near using SPCT; (3) loss of 2 octaves or more of stereoacuity from baseline, at any masked examination; or (4) reoperation without meeting any of these criteria. RESULTS: Cumulative probability of suboptimal surgical outcome by 3 years was 46% (43/101) in the BLRc group versus 37% (33/96) in the R&R group (treatment group difference of BLRc minus R&R, 9%; 95% confidence interval [CI], -6% to 23%). Reoperation by 3 years occurred in 9 participants (10%) in the BLRc group (8 of 9 met suboptimal surgical outcome criteria) and in 4 participants (5%) in the R&R group (3 of 4 met suboptimal surgical outcome criteria; treatment group difference of BLRc minus R&R, 5%; 95% CI, -2% to 13%). Among participants completing the 3-year visit, 29% (25 of 86) in the BLRc group and 17% (13 of 77) in the R&R group underwent reoperation or met suboptimal surgical outcome criteria at 3 years (treatment group difference of BLRc minus R&R, 12%; 95% CI, -1% to 25%). CONCLUSIONS: We did not find a statistically significant difference in suboptimal surgical outcome by 3 years between children with IXT treated with BLRc compared with those treated with R&R. Based on these findings, we are unable to recommend one surgical approach over the other for childhood IXT.

The Chiropractic Hospital-Based Interventions Research Outcomes Study: Consistency of Outcomes Between Doctors of Chiropractic Treating Patients With Acute Lower Back Pain.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine if effectiveness differs between community-based doctors of chiropractic administering standardized evidence-based care that includes high-velocity low-amplitude spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) for acute low back pain (LBP). METHODS: A secondary analysis of randomized controlled trial and observational pilot study data was performed with nonrandom allocation to 4 DCs. Patients included those with Quebec Task Force categories less than or equal to 2 and acute LBP of 2 to 4 weeks' duration. The intervention provided was clinical practice guidelines-based care including high-velocity low-amplitude SMT. Primary outcomes included changes from baseline in modified Roland Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) at 24 weeks. Comparisons of simple main effects at 24 weeks and of marginal main effects in repeated-measures analyses were performed. RESULTS: Between groups, adjusted point-specific differences in RDQ change were minimally clinically important but not statistically significant at 24 weeks (largest pairwise difference, -3.1; 95% confidence interval, -6.3 to 0.1; overall P = .10). However, in optimal analyses that considered the repeated nature of the measurements for each outcome, significant differences in marginal mean RDQ changes were found between groups (largest pairwise difference, -3.8; 95% confidence interval, -4.9 to 2.6; overall P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, DCs differed modestly in their effectiveness in improving LBP-specific disability. The point estimates mirrored typically reported effect sizes from recent systematic reviews of SMT; however, confidence limits did not exclude clinically negligible effects.

Cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive on a polyglactin scaffold in strabismus surgery: a laboratory study.

BACKGROUND: The use of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives in strabismus surgery has been variously successful, depending primarily on achieving adequate bond strength and minimizing extraocular muscle slippage. We investigate a novel approach to this problem, involving cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive on a polyglactin 910 scaffold as a means to secure extraocular muscle to the sclera for strabismus surgery. METHODS: In this experimental laboratory study, butyl-cyanoacrylate was used to fix a polyglactin 910 scaffold to the sclera of cadaver eyes. After allowing for polymerization, a force was applied to the mesh until the polyglactin-sclera bond failed. The maximum load (g) required for bond failure was recorded. The effects of surface area of the polyglactin 910 mesh as well as time required for cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive polymerization on bond strength were investigated. RESULTS: All combination of variables tested, except for experiments involving polyglactin 910 mesh that is 30 mm(2) with a polymerization time of 15 seconds or 30 seconds and polyglactin 910 mesh that is 40 mm(2) with a polymerization time of 15 seconds, achieved a bond strength that was significantly greater than those forces seen in a physiologic setting (P > 0.05). Increasing area or time resulted in increasing bond strength. Area and time were found to be independent variables. CONCLUSIONS: The cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive-derived polyglactin-sclera bond achieved a maximum load greater than those seen in a physiologic setting. Our novel approach demonstrates a clinically feasible alternative to traditional means for bonding muscle to sclera in strabismus surgery.

Guidelines for automated preschool vision screening: a 10-year, evidence-based update.

In 2003 the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Vision Screening Committee proposed criteria for automated preschool vision screening. Recent literature from epidemiologic and natural history studies, randomized controlled trials of amblyopia treatment, and field studies of screening technologies have been reviewed for the purpose of updating these criteria. The prevalence of amblyopia risk factors (ARF) is greater than previously suspected; many young children with low-magnitude ARFs do not develop amblyopia, and those who do often respond to spectacles alone. High-magnitude ARFs increase the likelihood of amblyopia. Although depth increases with age, amblyopia remains treatable until 60 months, with decline in treatment effectiveness after age 5. US Preventive Services Task Force Preventative Services Task Force guidelines allow photoscreening for children older than 36 months of age. Some technologies directly detect amblyopia rather than ARFs. Age-based criteria for ARF detection using photoscreening is prudent: referral criteria for such instruments should produce high specificity for ARF detection in young children and high sensitivity to detect amblyopia in older children. Refractive screening for ARFs for children aged 12-30 months should detect astigmatism >2.0 D, hyperopia >4.5 D, and anisometropia >2.5 D; for children aged 31-48 months, astigmatism >2.0 D, hyperopia > 4.0 D, and anisometropia >2.0 D. For children >49 months of age original criteria should be used: astigmatism >1.5 D, anisometropia>1.5 D, and hyperopia >3.5 D. Visually significant media opacities and manifest (not intermittent) strabismus should be detected at all ages. Instruments that detect amblyopia should report results using amblyopia presence as the gold standard. These new American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Vision Screening Committee guidelines will improve reporting of results and comparison of technologies.

Acute sciatica and progressive neurological deficit secondary to facet synovial cysts: A report of two cases.

OBJECTIVE: To describe two patients with lumbar facet synovial cysts causing sciatica and progressive neurological deficit. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 52-year-old female with bilateral sciatica and a neurological deficit that progressed to a foot drop; and a 54-year-old female with worsening sciatica and progressive calf weakness were seen at a major tertiary care centre. Diagnostic imaging studies revealed the presence of spinal nerve root impingement by large facet synovial cysts. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES: Activity modification, gabapentinoid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications were unsuccessful in ameliorating either patient's symptoms. One patient had been receiving ongoing lumbar chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy despite the onset of a progressive neurological deficit. Both patients eventually required surgery to remove the cyst and decompress the affected spinal nerve roots. CONCLUSION: Patients with acute sciatica who develop a progressive neurological deficit while under care, require prompt referral for axial imaging and surgical consultation. Primary care spine clinicians need to be aware of lumbar facet synovial cysts as a possible cause of acute sciatica and the associated increased risk of the patient developing a progressive neurological deficit.

The effect of neutral density filters on testing in patients with strabismic amblyopia.

OBJECTIVE: To confirm if using a neutral density filter (NDF) affects eyes with strabismic amblyopia differently compared to fellow non-amblyopic eyes, and to determine if a similar effect could be observed when using a NDF during peripheral visual field testing. DESIGN: Prospective controlled case series. PARTICIPANTS: 19 subjects with strabismic amblyopia with visual acuities between 20/400 and 20/40 in their affected eyes were recruited to the study. Fellow non-amblyopic eyes served as the control group. METHODS: Visual acuity in both eyes was assessed using a projected Snellen eye chart with two NDFs (0.4 and 3.0 densities). Visual fields were assessed using a Humphrey perimeter using one NDF (0.4 density). Best corrected visual acuity and visual fields were also recorded. RESULTS: When using a 3.0 NDF, visual acuity was reduced in all eyes (p < 0.0001). When using a 0.4 NDF, visual acuity was significantly improved in eyes with strabismic amblyopia compared to unfiltered conditions (p = 0.0011). There was no significant effect by NDFs on visual field testing in eyes with strabismic amblyopia or fellow non-amblyopic eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Neutral density filters affect eyes with strabismic amblyopia differently than they do non-amblyopic eyes. A significant improvement in visual acuity of eyes with strabismic amblyopia was observed when using a 0.4 NDF compared to non-amblyopic eyes. Visual acuity was reduced in amblyopic as well as non-amblyopic eyes when viewing through a 3.0 NDF. No significant change in visual fields was observed when using a 0.4 NDF in amblyopic or non-amblyopic eyes.

The role of Frizzled-4 mutations in familial exudative vitreoretinopathy and Coats disease.

AIM: The aim of this study is to assess the role of Frizzled-4 (FZD4) in familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) and Coats disease. METHODS: Tissue samples were collected for DNA extraction and automated DNA sequencing of the two coding exons of FZD4 in both directions. Cases carrying a FZD4 mutation and demonstrating extreme disease severity were selected for direct automated sequencing of all coding exons of LRP5, NDP and TSPAN12. Clinical data were obtained for the purpose of identifying genotype-phenotype correlations. RESULTS: 68 probands were diagnosed as having autosomal dominant or sporadic FEVR. Eleven FZD4 mutations (five missense, three deletions, one insertion, two nonsense) were identified. Six of these mutations are novel, and none were found in 346 control chromosomes. In 16 cases of Coats disease, one polymorphism combination was found in two samples: no mutations were detected. No genotype-phenotype correlation emerged. Three severely affected cases with FZD4 mutations failed to show additional mutations in the three other FEVR genes. CONCLUSION: The authors identified 12 FEVR probands with FZD4 mutations. FZD4 mutation screening can be a useful tool especially in mild or atypical cases of FEVR. Germ-line mutations in FZD4 do not appear to be a common cause of Coats disease.

Relationship between feeding schedules and gastric distress during retinopathy of prematurity screening eye examinations.

PURPOSE: To determine whether a relationship exists between the timing of feeding before retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) eye examinations and gastric side effects or distress associated with this examination. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, single-masked study was conducted involving infants in the neonatal intensive care unit who required an ROP eye examination and who received normal or full enteral feeding over a 1 year period. Infants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 study arms: feeding 1 hour before examination (arm 1) or feeding schedule adjusted to ensure no feeding within 2 hours before examination (arm 2). Physiological data, including blood pressure and pulse rate, before, during and after examination, crying time during the examination, presence of vomiting and gastric aspirates, and gastric aspirates volume 24 hours after the examination, were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 34 infants were enrolled, with 57 separate eye examinations conducted. There was 19% less crying (p = 0.016) in arm 1 versus arm 2. Vomiting was 3-fold less in arm 1 versus arm 2 (4.2% vs 12.5%, p = 0.38). Gastric aspirates was less in arm 1 versus arm 2 (p = 0.18). Diastolic blood pressure was lower and respiratory rate greater during the examination in arm 1 (p < 0.05), whereas pulse rate was greater at the start of the examination in arm 1 (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Feeding neonatal intensive care unit infants 1 hour before compared with withholding feeding 2 or more hours before ROP examinations may reduce stress during the examination, as measured by percentage crying during the examination, with no increased incidence of vomiting or gastric aspirates.

Field testing of the plusoptiX S04 photoscreener.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the plusoptiX S04 digital photoscreener in a school screening program. METHODS: Between 2006 and 2007, 1343 information pamphlets/consent forms were sent to all junior kindergarten students in a local school district. Assistants from a local public health unit photographed 307 children. Of these, 271 children received an independent ophthalmic examination by a physician. Photographic results were compared with the those of the ophthalmic examination. Amblyopia risk factors were defined as anisometropia >1 D (sphere or cylinder), astigmatism >1.25 D, myopia >3 D, hyperopia >3.5 D, any manifest strabismus, and any media opacity. RESULTS: Photographic and examination results agreed in 94% of cases. Sensitivity in detecting amblyopia risk factors was 83%; specificity was 95%. The positive and negative predictive values were 73% and 97%, respectively. The untestable/unusable rate was 1%. CONCLUSIONS: These results compare favorably with a previously reported (but no longer available) digital photoscreening camera and are superior to results obtained with other off-axis photoscreening devices that require human interpretation. On the basis of these results, in a real-world screening program, the camera would falsely refer 4% of those screened and would fail to correctly refer 2%. The accuracy of the plusoptiX S04 camera in detecting amblyopia risk factors appears sufficiently high to consider its further deployment in a widespread school screening program.

Hypermetropia and esotropia in myotonic dystrophy.

PURPOSE: To review detailed ophthalmic examinations of myotonic dystrophy patients especially with regard to refractive error and ocular alignment. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of detailed ophthalmic examinations of 32 patients (27 children and 5 adults) with myotonic dystrophy. RESULTS: The majority (86%) of eyes were hypermetropic. The average degree of hypermetropia was +6.0 D for children and +2.10 D for adults: 56% of children had esotropia; 22% had amblyopia. CONCLUSIONS: Children with myotonic dystrophy should receive detailed eye examinations with emphasis placed on recognition and management of hypermetropia and strabismus.

An analysis of post-booking jail diversion programming for persons with co-occurring disorders.

For persons with co-occurring disorders, interaction with criminal justice systems is a frequent occurrence. As a result, a variety of diversionary programs have been developed nationwide. In this study, a total of 248 individuals with co-occurring disorders of serious mental illness and substance use disorders who had been arrested and booked on misdemeanor charges participated in a post-booking jail diversion program in two urban communities. A quasi-experimental design was used with individuals assigned to diversion or non-diversion status based upon the decision processes of the mental health-criminal justice systems. The effectiveness of the jail diversion program was evaluated from a variety of sources, including structured interviews, behavioral health service utilization patterns, and criminal justice recidivism patterns. Analyses revealed general main effects for time on many of the outcome variables, with few main effects or interaction effects detected on the basis of diversion status (diverted versus non-diverted). Across all measures assessing mental health and substance abuse, study participants displayed improvements over time, irrespective of their diversion status or program location. Participants generally displayed no significant changes in their rates of accessibility to, or frequency of use of, the various mental health, substance abuse, and other services, and few changes for diversion status were detected with regard to service utilization. Although a number of indicators of criminality and violence were reduced over time, these reductions were statistically insignificant, with changes for diversionary status or time identified at follow-up. These results are discussed in light of their implications for jail diversion programming and future research in this area.

Head tilt-dependent esotropia associated with trisomy 21.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a series of patients who used a head tilt to control esotropia. DESIGN: Retrospective noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: Seven children with esotropia that decreased with their compensatory abnormal head tilt. Six of the patients had trisomy 21. The patients had no other identifiable etiology for their head tilt, including no oblique muscle dysfunction, nystagmus that changed with head tilt, or uncorrected refractive error. INTERVENTION: Six patients underwent horizontal extraocular muscle surgery. Preoperative evaluation in 4 patients included assessment of the change in head position with either monocular occlusion or prisms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ocular alignment in primary position and improvement in abnormal head tilt after surgery. RESULTS: In the 4 patients who underwent preoperative testing, the abnormal head tilt resolved with either monocular occlusion or prisms. The head tilt and esotropia were eliminated or improved in all patients who underwent strabismus surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal head tilt may be used as a compensatory maneuver to improve purely horizontal strabismus. This finding appears to be associated with trisomy 21. Horizontal extraocular muscle surgery may improve the head tilt in such patients.