Knowledge and Perception Regarding Medication Error Among Nurses.

BACKGROUND: Patient safety is the major concern in providing quality care. Medication errors have been identified as the most common type of preventable errors. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and perception regarding medication error among nurses. METHODS: A quantitative cross-sectional research design was used. The study was conducted in four different private hospitals in Lalitpur. A total enumerative sampling technique was used to select 302 nurses from these hospitals. Descriptive statistical methods were used to assess socio-demographic variables and inferential statistics methods such as the chi-squared test was used to analyse the association between knowledge, perception, and its socio-demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Most of the respondents 244 (80.8%) agreed the cause of medication error occurs due to unclear handwriting and 217 (71.9%) agreed prescribing the wrong route or dose and time. Mostly respondents 126 (41.7%) had inadequate knowledge, 101 (33.4%) had adequate knowledge and 75 (24.8%) had moderate knowledge on medication error. Mostly respondents 273 (90.4%) had positive perception and 26 (8.6 %) had negative perception. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the nurses had inadequate knowledge but has positive perception on medication error. Appropriate strategies for reducing nurses' workload, barriers to reporting, and sensitization workshops in a regular basis by the administrator should be developed to address medication errors and enhance patient safety in hospital settings.

Moth eaten alopecia as the only manifestation of syphilis: a case from Nepal.

This paper presents a case of Moth-Eaten Alopecia as the only clinical manifestation of secondary syphilis in a 28-year-old man from Nepal. The patient exhibited progressive hair loss in the occipitoparietal region without associated pain or itching. With a positive Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) test (1:256), the patient received a three-week course of Benzathine Penicillin G, resulting in complete hair regrowth within four months. This case underscores the significance of recognizing moth eaten alopecia as a potential dermatological sign of secondary syphilis, especially when it appears as the sole clinical symptom.

Cutaneous larva migrans in a child: a case report and review of literature.

Introduction: Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is a dermatitis caused by the invasion and migration of parasitic larvae of hookworms, primarily affecting tropical and subtropical regions. This report presents a case of CLM in a Nepali child and provides an overview of the literature on this condition. Case report: A 4-year-old boy from a rural area in Nepal presented with a pruritic skin lesion on his left foot, initially misdiagnosed as fungal infection. The lesion gradually expanded, forming a serpiginous erythema, and became intensely pruritic. The patient's family had poor socioeconomic conditions, and the child frequently walked barefoot in an area with many domestic and stray dogs. Diagnosis was confirmed clinically, and treatment with oral albendazole and antihistamines resulted in complete resolution of symptoms. Discussion: CLM is a neglected zoonotic disease, with an underestimated burden in developing countries due to underreporting and misdiagnosis. The larvae of Ancylostoma spp. are common culprits, causing a localized inflammatory reaction as they migrate through the skin. Diagnosis is mainly clinical and routine investigations usually reveal no abnormality. Complications may include secondary bacterial infections, allergies, and rare migration to internal organs. Treatment options include albendazole or ivermectin, with preventive measures emphasizing hygiene, footwear use, and pet deworming. Conclusion: CLM is a neglected disease that primarily affects marginalized communities in tropical regions. Raising awareness among healthcare providers, conducting observational studies, and developing treatment guidelines, especially for children, are essential steps to address this public health concern. Preventive efforts, such as promoting hygiene and footwear use, should be encouraged to reduce CLM incidence.

Uncommon presentation of cutaneous leishmaniasis: late-onset facial involvement after a decade-a rare case report.

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection that can involve the skin, mucosal membranes, and internal organs. It is endemic to the tropics. A forty-three-year-old male, diagnosed and treated for visceral leishmaniasis 15 years ago, presented with a complaint of a progressively growing lesion on his face for five years. A detailed history, clinical examination, and histopathological examination were done to reach a diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Treatment with oral fluconazole 300 mg daily for six months, followed by 50 mg miltefosine three times a day for another two months, led to complete resolution of symptoms, and the lesion on the face was cured. Early diagnosis is crucial to averting unwarranted treatment and potential complications. This case aims to inform clinicians of the high index of suspicion when diagnosing CL; given the delayed presentation, the previous medical history and the natural course of the lesion are of utmost importance.

Impacto do taping no Tendão de Aquiles nos parâmetros da marcha em indivíduos assintomáticos obesos e acima do peso / Impact of Achilles Tendon taping on parameters of gait in asymptomatic-overweight and obese individuals

INTRODUÇÃO: O taping do Tendão de Aquiles afeta os parâmetros da marcha em adultos com sobrepeso e obesos? O comprimento dos passos, o comprimento das passadas e a cadência são todos mais curtos nestes indivíduos, com maiores índices queda. OBJETIVO: Saber o efeito do taping do Tendão de Aquiles nos parâmetros de marcha em indivíduos obesos e com sobrepeso. MÉTODOS: Um ensaio clínico será realizado em um ambulatório de fisioterapia. Um total de quarenta participantes com Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) maior que 25 serão recrutados pelo método de amostragem por conveniência. Cada grupo terá 20 participantes, com idade entre 18 e 35 anos, sobrepeso com IMC>25 a 29,9 e obesidade com IMC>30. Ambos os grupos caminharão por 10 metros e um minuto usando um analisador de marcha, e ambos os grupos terão taping nos Tendões de Aquiles. A variável preditora será o taping do Tendão de Aquiles e as variáveis de resultado serão o comprimento do passo, o comprimento da passada e a cadência, que serão medidos antes e imediatamente após a bandagem. O software SPSS 20.0 será utilizado para análise estatística, com nível de significância de p<0.05. PERSPECTIVAS: A conclusão do ensaio clínico fornecerá informações sobre o impacto da bandagem do Tendão de Aquiles na marcha em indivíduos com sobrepeso ou obesos. Além disso, poderia potencialmente demonstrar que a bandagem pode reduzir o risco de quedas e, assim, impactar positivamente na qualidade de vida.

INTRODUCTION: Does Achilles Tendon taping affect gait parameters in overweight and obese adults? Step length, stride length, and cadence are all shorter in these individuals, with increased fall ratios. OBJECTIVE: To know the effect of Achilles Tendon taping on gait parameters in overweight and obese individuals. METHODS: A clinical trial will be conducted in a physical therapy outpatient clinic. A total of forty participants with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 25 will be recruited by convenience sampling method. Each group will have 20 participants, aged between 18 and 35 years old, overweight with BMI>25 to 29.9, and obese with BMI>30. Both groups will walk for 10 meters and one minute using a gait analyzer and both groups will have taping on the Achilles Tendons. The predictor variable will be the taping of the Achilles Tendon, and the outcome variables will be step length, stride length, and cadence, which will be measured before and immediately after taping. SPSS 20.0 software will be used for statistical analysis with a significance level of p<0.05. PERSPECTIVES: Completion of the clinical trial will provide information on the impact of Achilles Tendon taping on gait in overweight or obese individuals. In addition, it could potentially demonstrate that taping can reduce the risk of falls and thus positively impact the quality of life.

Efeito do taping no Tendão de Aquiles nos parâmetros da marcha em indivíduos assintomáticos obesos e acima do peso / Effect of Achilles Tendon taping on parameters of gait in asymptomatic-overweight and obese individuals

INTRODUÇÃO: Sobrepeso e obesidade afetam variáveis de marcha tais como cadência, comprimento do degrau e comprimento dos passos junto com a deterioração do tendão de Aquiles. A rígida rosca do tendão de Aquiles reduz a tensão e aumenta a estabilidade da articulação e pode ser empregada como suporte externo durante o treinamento da marcha para modificar os parâmetros da marcha. OBJETIVO: Descobrir se o taping modifica os padrões de marcha com o aumento do peso. MÉTODOS E MATERIAIS: Foram recrutados 40 sujeitos (20 acima do peso e 20 obesos) cujo comprimento dos degraus, comprimento dos passos e cadência foram medidos antes e depois da fita rígida do tendão de Aquiles. Cada pessoa completou o teste de caminhada de 10 metros usando o aplicativo Gait Analyzer. RESULTADOS: O teste Shapiro-Wilk é usado para avaliar a normalidade dos dados. O Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test e o Mann-Whitney U Test são usados para diferenças dentro e entre grupos. As diferenças dentro do grupo foram significativas nos parâmetros de marcha p <0,05 (Passo comprimento p<0,001, Stride comprimento p<0,001 e cadência p=0,009). Os parâmetros de marcha não diferiram estatisticamente entre os grupos. CONCLUSÃO: A aplicação de fita rígida no tendão de Aquiles tem um efeito semelhante nos parâmetros da marcha em indivíduos com excesso de peso e obesos. Após a aplicação da fita adesiva, verificou-se uma diferença significativa em termos de comprimento da passada, comprimento do passo e cadência na população estudada antes e depois da aplicação da fita adesiva para Aquiles. Isto implica que, independentemente do peso corporal, a intervenção com fita adesiva afeta a mecânica da marcha de forma comparável e destina-se a evitar movimentos articulares excessivos, a fornecer informações proprioceptivas durante as atividades e a diminuir o desconforto.

INTRODUCTION: Overweight and obesity affect gait variables such as cadence, step length, stride length, and Achilles tendon deterioration. Rigid Achilles tendon Taping reduces stress and enhances joint stability and can be employed as external support during gait training to modify gait parameters. OBJECTIVE: To find out whether taping modifies gait patterns with increasing weight. METHODS AND MATERIALS: 40 subjects were recruited (20 overweight and 20 obese) whose step length, stride length, and cadence were measured before and after rigid Achilles tendon taping. Each person completed the 10-meter walk test using Gait Analyzer application. RESULTS: The Shapiro-Wilk test is used to assess the normality of the data. Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test is used for within-group differences. Within-group differences were significant in gait parameters p <0.05 (Step length p<0.001, Stride length p<0.001 and cadence p=0.009). CONCLUSION: Rigid Achilles tendon taping have a similar effect on gait parameters in overweight and obese individuals. After taping, there was a significant difference in terms of stride length, step length and cadence in the study population before and after Achilles taping. This implies that regardless of body weight, the tape intervention affects gait mechanics in a comparable way and is intended to prevent excessive joint motion, provide proprioceptive input during activities, and lessen discomfort.

A higher frequency of CD4⁺CXCR5⁺ T follicular helper cells in adult patients with minimal change disease.

BACKGROUND: T follicular helper (TFH) cells are involved in the humoral immune responses. This study is aimed at examining the frequencies of different subsets of CD4(+)CXCR5(+) TFH cells in adult patients with minimal change disease (MCD). METHODS: A total of 27 patients and 14 healthy controls (HC) were characterized for the levels of sera cytokines, inducible T-cell costimulator (ICOS), and programmed death 1 (PD-1) of positive TFH cells by flow cytometry. The level of sera IL-21 was examined; 24 h urinary protein and eGFR were calculated. The potential correlation between the frequency of different subsets of TFH cells and the values of clinical measures in MCD patients were analyzed. RESULTS: The frequency of circulating CD4(+)CXCR5(+), CD4(+)CXCR5(+)ICOS(+), and CD4(+)CXCR5(+)PD-1(+) TFH cells and the levels of sera IL-17A, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-10, IL-4, and IL-21 were significantly higher in MCD patients (P < 0.05) than that in the HC group. Furthermore, the percentages of circulating CD4(+)CXCR5(+) TFH cells were negatively correlated with the values of eGFR (r = -0.4849, P < 0.05) and the percentages of CD4(+)CXCR5(+)PD-1(+) TFH cells were correlated positively with the levels of serum IL-21 (r = 0.6137, P < 0.05) and 24 h urinary protein (r = 0.1410, P < 0.05) in those patients. Also, the percentages of CD4(+)CXCR5(+)ICOS(+) TFH cells were correlated positively with the levels of serum IL-21 (r = 0.6201, P < 0.05) and 24 h urinary protein (r = 0.7519, P < 0.05). Following standard therapies, the percentages of circulating CD4(+)CXCR5(+), CD4(+)CXCR5(+)PD-1(+), and CD4(+)CXCR5(+)ICOS(+) TFH cells and the levels of serum IL-21 were significantly reduced, but the levels of serum IL-4 and IL-10 were increased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A higher frequency of CD4(+)CXCR5(+) TFH cells that existed in adult patients with MCD could be new target for intervention of MCD.

Streptococcus pneumoniae carriage prevalence in Nepal: evaluation of a method for delayed transport of samples from remote regions and implications for vaccine implementation.

BACKGROUND: Pneumococcal disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in young children in Nepal, and currently available pneumococcal conjugate vaccines offer moderate coverage of invasive disease isolates. METHODS: A prevalence study of children aged 1.5 to 24 months in urban and rural Nepal was conducted. In the urban group, nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) were transported using silica desiccant packages (SDP) with delayed processing (2 weeks), or skim-milk-tryptone-glucose-glycerin (STGG) with immediate processing (within 8 hours). Pneumococcal nasopharyngeal carriage prevalence, serogroup/type distribution and isolate genotypes (as defined by multilocus sequence typing) were determined. RESULTS: 1101 children were enrolled into the study: 574 in the urban group and 527 in the rural group. Overall carriage prevalence based on culture from specimens transported and stored in STGG was 58.7% (337/574), compared to 40.9% (235/574) in SDP. There was concordance of detection of pneumococcus in 67% of samples. Using the SDP method, pneumococcal carriage prevalence was higher in the rural population (69.2%; 364/526) compared to the urban population (40.9%; 235/574). Serogroup/type distribution varied with geographical location. Over half of the genotypes identified in both the urban and rural pneumococcal populations were novel. CONCLUSION: The combination of delayed culture and transport using SDP underestimates the prevalence of pneumococcal carriage; however, in remote areas, this method could still provide a useful estimate of carriage prevalence and serogroup/type distribution. Vaccine impact is unpredictable in a setting with novel genotypes and limited serotype coverage as described here. Consequently, continued surveillance of pneumococcal isolates from carriage and disease in Nepali children following the planned introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines introduction will be essential.

Evaluation of haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine for routine immunization in Nepali infants.

BACKGROUND: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) carriage and disease studies in Nepali children suggest a significant burden of infection. Hib conjugate vaccines (HibCV) do not have uniform immunogenicity between populations. We determined the immunogenicity of HibCV in Nepali infants, before its introduction into the routine immunization schedule. METHODS: Ninety infants recruited at Patan Hospital, Kathmandu, received 3 doses of the HibCV with routine immunizations (diphtheria, tetanus, whole cell pertussis-hepatitis B vaccine + oral polio vaccine) at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age, and a HibCV booster at 52 weeks. Anti-polyribosylribitol phosphate (PRP) concentrations were measured at 18, 52 and 56 weeks, and the antibody persistence at 52 weeks was compared with antibody values in unimmunized controls (n = 30). RESULTS: After 3 doses of primary immunizations, at 18 weeks of age (n = 74), all infants had anti-PRP concentrations above the accepted thresholds for short- and long-term protection (0.15 and 1.0 µg/mL, respectively). At 1 year of age, before administration of the booster of HibCV, the anti-PRP geometric mean antibody concentration was 2.76 µg/mL (confidence interval: 1.88-4.07) in sera from the immunized children compared with 0.11 µg/mL (95% confidence interval: 0.08-0.17) in the nonimmunized control group (n = 30). Twenty-seven percent (20/74) of participants, however, had anti-PRP concentrations <1.0 µg/mL. Four weeks after the booster dose of HibCV, 98.5% of infants had anti-PRP concentrations above 1.0 µg/mL. CONCLUSION: Immunization with HibCV given as part of the Expanded Program on Immunization schedule in Nepal elicits robust antibody responses. Though the antibody wanes during the first year of life, most 1-year-old infants remain protected and respond robustly to a booster dose of the vaccine.