Prevalence and Antibiotic Susceptibility of the Common Bacterial Uropathogen Among UTI Patients in French Medical Institute for Children.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most prevalent infections, with a variety of etiologic agents, a high number of occurrences, relapses, and complications; also, antibiotic resistance of the pathogenic bacterium is a hugely significant challenge for physicians. Objective: The goal of this research was to identify the common bacterial uropathogens as well as their susceptibility to commonly used antibiotics. Materials and Methods: During the first six months of 2018, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on urine samples of 1780 patients at FMIC based on culture. Bacterial typing was performed using cystine lactose electrolyte deficient agar and blood agar, and Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion was employed to assess the sensitivity of the bacteria to various antibiotics. Results: Among 1780 patients in 341 (19.15%) samples, uropathogens were isolated. E. coli (63.9%), Enterococcus (11.1%), Serratia species (10.8%), Staphylococcus species (8.2%), Klebsiella (2.9%), Proteus species (1.8%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.2%) were the most common bacterial uropathogens. More than two-thirds of patients were female (69.6%), with the remaining 30.4% male. Ampicillin, amoxicillin, and erythromycin were the antibiotics with the highest resistance rates in bacterial uropathogens, at 92.6%, 82.9%, and 82.1%, respectively. Furthermore, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, cefixime, and sulfamethoxazole were antibiotics with resistance rates exceeding 70%. The antibiotics pristinamycin and ticarcillin were the most sensitive, with a TRR of zero. Ertapenem, imipenem, amikacin, tazobactam, fosfomycin, vancomycin, and nitrofurantoin were the antibiotics with the lowest resistance rates (less than 10%). Conclusion: E. coli was the most common bacterial uropathogen isolated in this study, followed by Enterococcus species. Our findings suggest that physicians, particularly in FMIC, consider E. coli, Enterococcus, Serratia and Staphylococcus as the most common bacteria, and use pristinamycin, ticarcillin, ertapenem, imipenem, amikacin, tazobactam, fosfomycin, vancomycin, and nitrofurantoin as sensitive antibiotics in empirical UTI treatment.

Correlation of Psoriasis Disability Index and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index: A Study from Afghanistan.

Background: Psoriasis is a common skin disease that affects physical, psychological, and social well-being of patients. Several studies have assessed health-related quality of life of patients with psoriasis in different populations with large variations. Objective: To investigate, for the first time, the impact of psoriasis on quality of life of Afghan patients with psoriasis. Methods: This is a prospective observational study conducted at the dermatology department of Maiwand Teaching hospital in Kabul City during April 2018 to May 2019. Patients with plaque psoriasis with age ≥16 years were included in the study. Psoriasis Disability Index was used for the assessment of health-related quality of life. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index was used to define the severity of disease. Appropriate tests were performed using Statistical Package for Social Science. Results: A total of 174 patients with psoriasis were included in the study, 89 of them were male (51.1%) and 85 of them were female (48.9%). The mean age of the patients was 27.7 years with 13.2 years SD, and the average duration of the disease was 3.2 years with 4.7 years SD. The mean of PASI score was 13.3 with 7.8 SD, while the mean of total PDI was 9.6 with 3.7 SD; there was a strong correlation between total PDI and PASI score (r=0.751, p<0.001). The mean of total PDI was higher among moderate-to-severe psoriasis, female patients, younger age, and those who were single. Conclusion: Our study highlighted that psoriasis disability index was highly correlated with psoriasis area and severity index. Furthermore, the quality of life was more affected among female patients, patients younger than 40 years, and those patients who were single.

High Dose Cabergoline in Management of Bilateral Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome: A Case Report.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is an exaggerated response to excess hormones and is also one of the life-threatening iatrogenic complications which is associated with ovulation induction. This syndrome usually occurs in women who receive injectable hormones for the stimulation of egg development in the ovaries. This study describes a rare case of moderate ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome which has been managed and treated with high-dose cabergoline. The patient was diagnosed in the Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences Department of Kabul University of Medical Sciences and treated in Shahrara Teaching Hospital. A 26-year-old woman was diagnosed with the development of bilateral moderate ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after receiving clomiphene citrate in dose of 100 mg BID on day 5 of period and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) 10,000 units for egg release on day 14 of period. The patient was given a high dose of cabergoline. The dose was adjusted to 1 mg/day for eight days since she was diagnosed with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Consequently, the main outcome of our intervention was complete resolution of OHSS as well as complete recovery of the patient. As a result, it is concluded that the high dose of cabergoline prevents and reduces the occurrence, prolongation, and severity of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. However, more assessments through randomized controlled trials regarding the efficacy and safety of cabergoline doses and treatment duration for treatment and preventive purposes are required.

Metabolic Syndrome and Psoriasis: A Case-Control Study in Kabul, Afghanistan.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is not limited to the skin. Recently, numerous studies have shown a positive association between metabolic syndrome and psoriasis. OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to examine the association of metabolic syndrome with psoriasis in an Afghan population. METHODS: This was a case- control study including 114 patients with psoriasis and 114 controls aged ≥18 years admitted to the dermatology department of Maiwand Teaching Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. Height, weight, blood pressure, and waist circumference were measured in all subjects. Blood glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were tested following overnight fasting. The modified National Cholesterol Education Program - Adult Treatment Panel III criteria were used for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: In total, 51.8% of the cases and 44.7% of the controls were male. The average age of participants was 33.4±13.1 years in the case group and 41.1±15.4 years in the control group. The average duration of disease for psoriasis was 4.2 years with 5.6 years SD. The average PASI was 10.8 with 5.1 SD. More than half of the cases (62.3%) had moderate to severe psoriasis and 37.7% had mild psoriasis. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher among patients with psoriasis compared to controls (36.8% vs 21.1%) with OR of 2.18 (p=0.009). In addition, overweight/obesity was more prevalent among cases compared to controls (65.8% vs 41.2%) with OR of 2.74 (p<0.001), whereas the waist circumference was not significantly different between the two groups. Furthermore, the mean levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and fasting blood glucose were also higher among patients with psoriasis compared to controls. CONCLUSION: The results of the study confirm the association between psoriasis and metabolic syndrome. Hence, screening psoriatic patients for metabolic syndrome should be considered.

Corrigendum to "Performance of Distress Thermometer and Associated Factors of Psychological Distress among Chinese Cancer Patients".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2020/3293589.].

Factors influencing vaccination coverage among children age 12-23 months in Afghanistan: Analysis of the 2015 Demographic and Health Survey.

BACKGROUND: Childhood vaccination plays a key role in reducing morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases. Numerous studies have assessed the influence of demographic and socioeconomic factors on child immunization around the world. There are few such studies in Afghanistan, however. Therefore, this study aimed to identify factors influencing vaccination status among children age 12-23 months in Afghanistan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nationally representative data from the 2015 Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey were used for this study. A sample of 5,708 children age 12-23 months with a vaccine card and immunization history was analyzed. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify significant relationships between cofactors and vaccination status. RESULTS: In the study, 51% the subjects were boys, 48% were born at home, and 76% were residents of rural areas. Background characteristics positively associated with vaccination status included delivery in a health facility (RRR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.9-3.3), maternal age of 30-39 years (RRR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.2-4.1), attending at least four visits for antenatal care (RRR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.7-4.5), health facility visit in the past 12 months (RRR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.4-2.5), paternal professional occupation (RRR = 4.9, 95% CI = 2.0-12.3), family with richer wealth index (RRR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.4-4.1), and living in the northeast region (RRR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.2-3.9)were positively associated with vaccination status. Living in the southern region (RRR = 0.3, 95% CI = 0.2-0.5) was negatively associated with vaccination status. CONCLUSION: This study identified maternal age, ANC visits, place of delivery, health facility visits in past 12 months, paternal occupation, wealth quintile, and geographic region as the factors influencing child's vaccination status in Afghanistan.

Association of metabolic syndrome with pediatric psoriasis: a case-control study in Kabul, Afghanistan.

BACKGROUND: Limited studies have assessed the risk of metabolic syndrome in pediatric psoriasis. This study was aimed to investigate the association of obesity and metabolic syndrome with pediatric psoriasis in Afghanistan. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted from March to December 2018 at the dermatology department of Maiwand Teaching Hospital in Kabul city. Participants were children aged less than 18 years; 113 children with psoriasis and 113 children without psoriasis were compared. Height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure were measured. Blood samples were taken following overnight fasting to test serum levels of glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Analyses were done using Chi-square test and independent t test. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated. RESULTS: The mean age was 13.9 ± 3.7 and 13.4 ± 3.4 years in the psoriasis and control groups, respectively. Males comprised 54.9% of the psoriasis group and 41.6% of the control group. Family history of skin disorders was higher among children with psoriasis compared to the control group (23.0% vs. 13.7%; P < 0.001). Children with psoriasis were more likely to be overweight/obese (27.4% vs. 12.4%, OR = 2.67; P = 0.005), to have central adiposity with waist-height ratio of 0.5 or greater (23% vs. 9.7%, OR = 2.77; P = 0.007), and to have metabolic syndrome (13.3% vs. 2.3%, OR = 5.23; P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: The study revealed that children with psoriasis were more likely to have metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors compared to children without psoriasis.

Dairy consumption and acne: a case control study in Kabul, Afghanistan.

BACKGROUND: Previous observational studies suggest that the development of acne may be triggered by dairy intake. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association of dairy intake and acne in Kabul citizens. METHODS: From February to September 2018, 279 acne patients and 279 controls aged 10-24 years were enrolled in a case control study at the dermatologic outpatient department of Maiwand Teaching Hospital in Kabul City, Afghanistan. The acne severity was determined by a dermatologist using the Global Acne Severity Scale. RESULTS: The consumption of whole milk 3 days or more per week was associated with moderate to severe acne (OR =2.36, 95% CI, 1.39-4.01). The association for low fat milk was less marked than for whole milk (OR 1.95 CI, 1.10-3.45). The risk was increased in those with a family history of acne in siblings (OR =4.13, 95% CI, 2.55-6.69). The risk was reduced in subjects doing physical exercise. No association with smoking emerged. A protective effect was associated with chicken consumption (OR =0.27, 95% CI, 0.15-0.49). Consumption of chocolate and chips was positively associated with acne. CONCLUSION: This study showed an association between high intakes of dairy products and acne in adolescence suggesting that dairy intake may be a factor contributing to acne.