The record-setting flood of 2014 in kelantan: challenges and recommendations from an emergency medicine perspective and why the medical campus stood dry.

Floods are considered an annual natural disaster in Kelantan. However, the record-setting flood of 2014 was a 'tsunami-like disaster'. Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia was the only fully functioning hospital in the state and had to receive and manage cases from the hospitals and clinics throughout Kelantan. The experiences, challenges, and recommendations resulting from this disaster are highlighted from an emergency medicine perspective so that future disaster preparedness is truly a preparation. The history of how the health campus was constructed with the collaboration of Perunding Alam Bina and Perkins and Willis of Chicago is elaborated.

Patient Ability to Use Old versus New/Modified Model Adrenaline Autoinjection Emergency Medical Devices for Anaphylaxis in Prehospital Setting: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to determine the individual's ability to use new/modified model AAI compared to old model AAIs devices for anaphylaxis. METHODS: The protocol was established a priori and published on PROSPERO (CRD42021229691) and was conducted based on PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE and CENTRAL were searched until 31 January 2021. Only RCTs were included in this review. Primary studies comparing old model AAI to new/modified model AAI emergency medical devices were included. Primary outcomes included number of successful administrations, and number of individuals to complete all steps. Secondary outcomes included successful removal of device safety guards, placement of correct end of the device against the thigh and holding of the device in place for adequate time after administration; the frequency of an adverse event (digital injection); individual preferences in terms of size, individual preference in terms of ease for carrying, overall patient preference; and the mean time of delivery. RESULTS: Overall, seven trials consisting of 1359 patients were analyzed. Reporting of adverse events was limited to digital injection, which was significantly higher in the old model AAI (RR 6.90, 95% CI 3.27 to 14.57; I2 statistic = 0%; p < 0.001; four trials, 610 participants; high quality evidence). No significant difference was found regarding successful administration between the old model AAI and new/modified model AAI (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.52 to 1.11; I2 statistic = 96%; p = 0.16; seven trials, 2196 participants; low quality evidence). CONCLUSIONS: We cannot make any new recommendations on the effectiveness of different models of AAIs regarding successful administration. However, considering the aspect of safety, we think that mew/modified model AAI can be chosen as the old model AAI was associated with a higher frequency of the adverse event (digital injection).

An 11-Year Analysis of Emergency Presentations of Melioidosis in Northeastern Malaysia.

A neglected tropical disease, melioidosis is known to have variability in clinical presentations. Here, we described clinical features that should alert the physicians on the possibility of melioidosis. In this review of 86 cases from 2001 to 2011, the common presentations of melioidosis in the Emergency Department (ED), Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia were; male gender (79.1 %), in working age group (47.8 ± 15.2 year-old), worked in contact with soil (73.3 %), presented with fever (91.9 %), in rainy season (55.8 %), have underlying diabetes mellitus (79.1 %), have leukocytosis (67.4 %) and high blood glucose (62.8 %) during presentation. In 34.9 % of cases, the antimicrobials were initiated at the ED and only 10.5 % include antimelioid drugs. Thirty-one patients (36.0 %) died due to melioidosis and 51.6 % of this were within 48 h of admission. Despite high mortality rate, the clinical awareness on the possibility of melioidosis among emergency physicians is still low and need to be strengthened.

A multicenter controlled trial on knowledge and attitude about cardiopulmonary resuscitation among secondary school children in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: We performed a multicenter controlled trial to assess the knowledge and attitude (KA) about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) among secondary school children in a district in Malaysia. METHODS: This was a prospective intervention study. The primary endpoint of the study was to determine the level of KA about resuscitation after CPR training. The six schools and classes from selected schools were chosen by randomization among the form three and four classes using sealed envelopes. A fully validated questionnaire consisting of three sections (sociodemographic, knowledge and attitude) was given to the pupils before and 2 weeks after the intervention. The intervention group was given a lecture, video show, pamphlet and 1-h practical session on CPR training. The control group received a placebo in order to overcome the learning effect. The maximum scores for the knowledge and attitude sections were 72 and 28, respectively. Repeated measures ANOVA analysis was used for specific objectives to determine the changes in knowledge and attitude level pre- and post-intervention for both study groups. P-values less than 0.05 were taken as significant at 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: The mean (SD) total knowledge scores for the intervention (n = 216) and control (n = 252) groups were 62.43 (13.68) and 62.29 (12.11), respectively (maximum score 72) (p > 0.05). On the other hand, the mean (SD) total attitude scores for the intervention and the control groups were 19.33 (4.51) and 17.85 (4.52), respectively (maximum score 28) (p < 0.001). There were significant differences in mean knowledge and attitude scores between the intervention and control groups with regard to time (pre- and post-intervention). The mean difference in knowledge and attitude scores between both study groups was 8.31 (p < 0.001) and 2.39 (p < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The level of knowledge and attitudes of secondary school children was shown to be acceptable prior to the intervention. Furthermore, a brief CPR training program improved their level of knowledge and attitudes significantly as compared to those who had never been trained.