RESUMO
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the Gram-negative bacteria that causes nosocomial infection in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The therapy provided could be antibiotics and the provision of therapy is considered difficult due to antibiotic resistance; therefore, an alternative is needed such as active ingredients from medicinal plants. Turmeric (Curcuma domestica) is believed to have compounds that have antibacterial activities. The aim of this study was to determine the antibacterial activities of ethanol extract from turmeric leaves against the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. An experimental study was conducted using posttest-only design. Antibacterial activities were determined using disc diffusion method with concentration of 50%, 75%, and 100% Curcuma domestica extract. The positive and negative controls were ciprofloxacin and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), respectively. The inhibition zone of 50%, 75%, and 100% extract groups against Pseudomonas aeruginosa were 8.9 mm, 10.6 mm, and 11.8 mm, respectively. There was no significant different of antibacterial activities between different concentrations of Curcuma domestica (50%, 75% and 100% of extracts). All groups of Curcuma domestica extract had lower antibacterial activities significantly than ciprofloxacin (positive control). This data indicated that the leave extract of Curcuma domestica had a weak inhibition against the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
RESUMO
Background: Some Ebola vaccines have been developed and tested in phase III clinical trials. However, assessment of whether public have willingness to purchase or not, especially in unaffected areas, is lacking. The aim of this study was to determine willingness to pay (WTP) for a hypothetical Ebola vaccine in Indonesia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 August to 30 December 2015 in five cities in Aceh province of Indonesia. Patients' family members who visited outpatient departments were approached and interviewed about their sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of Ebola, attitude towards vaccination practice and their WTP for a hypothetical Ebola vaccine. A multivariable linear regression model assessed the relationship between these explanatory variables and WTP. Results: During the study, 500 participants were approached and interviewed. There were 424 (84.8%) respondents who completed the interview and 74% (311/424) expressed their acceptance for an Ebola vaccine. There were 288 participants who were willing to pay for an Ebola vaccine (92.6% out of 311). The mean of WTP was US$2.08 (95% CI: 1.75-2.42). The final multivariable model indicated that young age, high educational attainment, working as a private employee, entrepreneur or civil servant (compared to farmers), being unmarried, and residing in a suburb (compared to a city) were associated with higher WTP. Conclusions: Although the proportion of the participants who would accept the Ebola vaccine was relatively high, the amount they were willing to pay for Ebola vaccine was very low. This finding would indicate the need of subsidies for Ebola vaccine in the country.