Bacteriological Profile of Surgical Site Infection Following Gastrointestinal Surgery and Their Antibiogram.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection is one of the common complication following abdominal surgery. It causes great morbidity and mortality, further increasing prevalence of multidrug resistant bacteria have made its management very challenging. The current study aims to identify causative agent responsible for surgical site infection and their antibiotic resistance patterns. METHODS: This study was conducted among patients developing surgical site infection following gastrointestinal surgery in Tribhuvan university teaching hospital over a period of one year. The samples were collected and processed according to standard methods. The bacterial pathogens with their antimicrobial susceptibility were determined and resistant pattern like methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and extended spectrum beta lactamase were further detected. RESULTS: A total of 832 patients had under gone gastrointestinal surgery during the study period. Among them, 162 cases (19.5%) developed surgical site infection and 125 cases showed growth in culture. A total of 160 aerobic bacteria were isolated; Escherichia coli (29.9%) was the commonest organism with 40.8% being extended spectrum beta lactamase producer and 47.4% of Staphylococcus aureus were methicillin resistant. About 75.9% (85/112) of gram negative bacteria and 60.4% (29/48) gram positive bacteria were multi drug resistant. CONCLUSIONS: The burden of multi drug resistant bacteria causing surgical site infection is high which needs to be addressed timely. Good surveillance of bacterial antibiogram and rational antimicrobial use is necessary to reduce emergence and spread of resistant bacteria.

Prevalence of Menstrual Abnormalities and its Effect among Undergraduate Students.

BACKGROUND: Menstrual abnormalities are menstrual problems that women face during their reproductive years. Globally, they are the most prevalent disorders affecting quality of life in females. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of menstrual abnormalities, its effects and health seeking behaviour of the respondents. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 30 days was conducted among the undergraduate female students of BP Koirila Institute of Health Sceince who were more than 18 years and had attained their menarche. Total number of responses recorded were 137. Data was collected online via google forms and descriptive analysis was done using SPSS 23. RESULTS: Out of 137 participants, 94.89% had menstrual abnormalities. Among which, 75.38% females sought treatment. Dysmenorrhea and Pre-menstrual syndrome were found to be the most prevalent abnormality. The quality of life was affected in most of the females in terms of lack of concentration in study (91.54%), missing the opportunity for socialization (95.39%), inability to perform physical exercises (82.31%), extra hours of confinement to bed (38.46%) and unable to attend lectures (30%). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of menstrual abnormalities were high. Quality of life was affected in all the subjects with menstrual abnormality but only few of them were seeking treatment with a professional doctor.

Combination Therapy in Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending Outpatient Department in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Assessing anti-diabetic drug use patterns in hospitals is an important activity which helps to promote the rational use of drugs and may suggest measures to change prescribing habits for the better. This study aimed to find the use of combination therapy in diabetes mellitus patients attending the outpatient department of a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 201 diabetes mellitus patients in the internal medicine department from 2 March 2022 to 30 June 2022 for a duration of four months after approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Protocol No: IRC-LMC-01/R-022). Diabetic patients prescribed at least one anti-diabetic drug in prescription forms were included. Socio-demographic profiles, clinical characteristics and anti-diabetic drug use pattern-related data were collected. Convenience sampling was used. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Among 201 patients, 134 (66.66%) (60.14-73.18, 95% Confidence Interval) patients were given combination therapy. The most common combination therapy was metformin 500 mg and sitagliptin 50 mg. A total of 324 anti-diabetic drugs were used. The average number of drugs prescribed per patient was 1.6±0.7. The number of anti-diabetic drugs prescribed by generic name and from the national essential drugs list was 74 (22.83%) and 188 (58.02%) respectively. Biguanides were used in 176 (87.56%) patients. Conclusions: These findings were similar to some other studies conducted in similar settings. In most patients, combination drug therapy was more prevalent. Among combination therapy, two drug combinations were more prevalent. Keywords: diabetes mellitus; drug combinations; outpatients; teaching hospital.

A randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of different methods on pain management during orthodontic debonding.

BACKGROUND: Orthodontic treatment procedures like separator placement, archwire placement, orthodontic force application, miniscrew placement and debonding procedure usually involve pain and discomfort. Pain perception and methods to reduce pain during debonding in regard to gender and different locations of oral cavity is still a poorly documented issue in orthodontics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different methods on pain management during debonding and its association with gender and location. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty orthodontic patients in the stage of debonding were randomly assigned into four groups according to different methods used during debonding; Group A: Medication group (Paracetamol given 1 h before debonding), Group B: Finger pressure group, Group C: Stress relief group and Group D: Control group. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the pain intensity just after debonding for each sextant. RESULTS: Among 140 participants, 61 (43.57%) were males and 79 (56.43%) were females. Differences in VAS score in different areas of oral cavity among all groups were found to be significant (p < 0.05). Total VAS score was greater in control group (16.67) followed by stress relief group (13.33) and finger pressure group (10) and least in medication group (8.33). The VAS score was higher in the upper front and lower front sextants in all the groups. Females reported higher VAS score and in upper front sextant, it showed significant difference (p = 0.018). On comparison, total VAS scores were statistically significant difference in medication-stress relief arm pair (p = 0.009), medication-control arm pair (p < 0.001) and finger pressure-control arm pair (0.002). The total VAS score comparison between medication-finger pressure arm was not significant (p = 0.172). CONCLUSIONS: Pain perceived during debonding varies in different areas of oral cavity among all the groups. Anterior area of oral cavity and female seems to be more sensitive to pain. Use of finger pressure can be used effectively for pain management during debonding.

Potential Drug-drug Interaction among the Patients Admitted in Intensive Care Units of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Drug interactions are one of the major contributors to increase hospital stay, inflate health care expenses, and cause serious adverse events and end-organ damage. Patients admitted to the intensive care unit are already critically sick and are at greater risk of these adverse outcomes. The study aimed to find out the prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions in the Intensive Care Units of a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among the patients admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary care hospital from April-June 2019. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Board at the institute (Reference number: 399). Convenience sampling method was used. Data was collected using proforma and potential drug-drug interactions were identified using Lexicomp® drug-interactions version 1.1 (Wolters Kluwer). All the drug interactions identified were classified and the severity scale of interactions was also defined. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 17.0 was used for data analysis. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and mode. Results: Out of 101 patients, the prevalence of the drug-drug interaction was found to be 90 (89.11%) (83.04-95.18 at 95% Confidence Interval). A total of 490 drug-drug interactions were identified. In severity scale, it was seen that 311 (63.46%) were of moderate severity and 303 (61.83%) of drug interactions were categorised as category C in risk rating. Conclusions: Prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions was higher compared to similar published literature. The most common drug with potential interaction was fentanyl and among pairs was fentanyl plus paracetamol. Keywords: drug interactions; intensive care units; Nepal; software.

Therapeutic drug level of tacrolimus causing intracranial hemorrhage in a patient with renal transplant.

Tacrolimus is used in solid organ transplant patients to prevent rejection, and no case of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has been reported till date. We report a case of 31-year-old man with diabetes and hypertension for ten years who had a renal transplant four years back; diagnosed with tacrolimus-induced ICH.

Prescribers Perception on Drug Promotional Literatures in A Tertiary Care Hospital in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Drug promotional literatures can often be misleading and have biased information and can contribute to irrational use of medicines. Thus, it is necessary that prescribers critically analyze the drug promotional literatures presented to them. This study attempts to understand if the prescribers at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital are aware about the necessary information that should be present in a drug promotional literature. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over six months in which prescribers at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital were provided with the self-administered questionnaire and were requested to submit the filled in questionnaire. Prescribers presently working at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, attending out patient department services and had received drug promotional literatures within last six months were included in this study. RESULTS: During the study, 163 of the received questionnaires met the inclusion criteria and were utilized for analysis. Advertisement, reminder items and others type of drug promotional literatures were commonly received by prescribers included in our study. Higher proportion of faculties (35.29%) preferred reprint type of drug promotional literatures. Most of the participants (47.85%) searched for 5-8 WHO-Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion criteria when referring a drug promotional literature. It was seen that 42.94% of prescribers realised that at least two out of four types of information related to negative attribute of the promoted medicines were missing. CONCLUSIONS: The prescribers with least duration of clinical exposure are more likely to always prescribe the medicines promoted to them. Prescribers were more confident on claims made in drug promotional literatures if they were supported using scientific evidences.

Efficacy of unilateral cerebral perfusion for brain protection in aortic arch surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the surgical and neurological outcomes after aortic arch surgery using unilateral cerebral perfusion. METHODS: Between June 2004 and February 2017, a total of 1000 patients (mean age 63 ± 12; range, 14-88 years) with nonacutely dissected aortic pathology (aneurysm, porcelain aorta, chronic dissection, infection, and injury in 89.1%, 4.9%, 4.1%, 1.6%, and 0.3%, respectively) underwent aortic arch surgery using unilateral cerebral perfusion for brain protection using mild hypothermia. A previous neurological event with residuals was documented in 3.6% of the patients and 12.2% had received previous cardiovascular surgery. The surgery comprised total/subtotal arch repair (with involvement of at least 1 supra-aortic artery) or hemiarch replacement in 346 and 654 patients, respectively. The aortic valve was replaced in 521 (including 190 valve composite grafts) and repaired in 380 patients (284 valve-sparing root repairs). RESULTS: The unilateral cerebral perfusion (mean duration 23.3 ± 17.2; range, 6-105 minutes) was performed via cannulated common carotid or innominate artery and aimed for a pressure-controlled (70-100 mm Hg) flow (mean flow, 1.4 ± 0.3 L/min; mean pressure, 90.1 ± 20.1 mm Hg) at a constant blood temperature of 28°C for ensuring the patency of collateral pathways. The circulatory arrest of the lower body (mean duration 18.4 ± 9.9 minutes) was performed at a rectal temperature of 31.2 ± 1.8°C. Early (30-day) and in-hospital mortality was 1.3% and 2.1%, respectively; the rates of permanent neurological deficit and transient neurological dysfunctions were 1.0% and 4.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral cerebral perfusion performed in the described conditions is highly effective for cerebral protection in aortic arch surgery.

Adherence of Drug Promotional Literatures Distributed by Pharmaceutical Companies to World Health Organization Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion.

BACKGROUND: Drug Promotional Literatures are usually relied upon for drug promotion, however studies have shown them to contain several pitfalls. World Health Organization has time and often revised the guideline to address the issue and World Health Organization Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion was established. Based on this guideline, several regional as well as national guidelines have been formulated. Though laws to regulate drug promotion is existent, studies have shown problems with drug promotional literatures in Nepal also. This study was carried out to analyse the drug promotional literatures distributed by pharmaceutical companies in Nepal as per World Health Organization Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion. METHODS: A cross-sectional study over a period of one year was conducted at our department. Pharmaceutical companies registered in Department of Drug Administration, Kathmandu and consenting for the study were requested to provide ten unique drug promotional literatures of their products. Collected drug promotional literatures were analysed for inclusion of essential information as per World Health Organization Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion, level of biasness. Different drug promotional literatures were also classified and compared for these aspects. RESULTS: A total of 48 pharmaceutical companies were included in the study. Drug promotional literatures (n = 372) were analysed during the study. Adherence to criteria concerned with positive attributes of the promoted medicine was found to be higher, most of the drug promotional literatures adhered to 5-8 criteria of World Health Organization Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion and were categorised into grade B. Difference in adherence as well as number of biased drug promotional literatures was also seen when drug promotional literatures were compared on different basis. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to World Health Organization Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion was found to vary when drug promotional literatures were classified as per pharmaceutical company, type of formulation being promoted, type of drug promotional literatures.