Antibiogram Profiling of Antibiotics in Ear, Nose, and Throat Infections in Tertiary Healthcare Settings.

Introduction Antibiotic resistance is an emerging threat in tertiary healthcare settings, with increased usage of antibiotics on patients having ear, nose, and throat (ENT) infections, the bacterial strains are becoming resistant to its treatment causing antibiotic resistance and ineffective treatment. This study focuses on the antibiogram profiling of bacterial pathogens by the conventional disc diffusion method in a tertiary healthcare setting and the recent method using a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) to identify bacterial strains isolated from infections of the ENT. Materials and methods Swab samples were collected from patients with ENT infections and were subjected to bacteriological and proteomic studies to assess the status of drug-resistant pathogens. About 125 samples were subjected to an antimicrobial susceptibility test by disc diffusion, and the bacterial isolates were screened on MALDI-TOF for identification. Result The study identified beta-hemolytic Streptococci as the most prevalent bacterial species, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. MALDI-TOF analysis yielded high identification accuracy for beta-hemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes, and the antibiogram profile of bacterial isolates indicated that most of the bacteria are resistant to penicillin, amoxicillin, and chloramphenicol.  Conclusion  The study emphasized the importance of appropriate antibiotic selection in treating ENT infections, considering local antibiograms and understanding antibiotic resistance patterns. This shall aid clinicians in choosing effective antibiotics, reducing treatment failure, and preventing the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Overall, the research provides valuable insights into antibiotic resistance in ENT infections.

Efficacy of Various Tuberculosis Treatment Regimens at a Tertiary Health Care Center in South India: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction Tuberculosis (TB) infection continues to be a major chronic infection causing significant morbidity and mortality, despite being a preventable and treatable infectious disease. The emergence and rapid spread of drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the causative bacteria, present a formidable challenge to global TB control efforts. This study aimed to estimate the efficacy of TB treatment regimens and their successful outcomes in a retrospective analysis carried out in a tertiary health care hospital. Materials and methods A retrospective analysis was carried out on the patients diagnosed with TB and treated with different treatment regimens at Saveetha Medical College and Hospital (SMCH), Chennai, India, between November 2022 and July 2023. Data were collected on demographics, clinical characteristics, treatment regimens, and treatment outcomes of the above patients. Results A total of 234 patients were included in the study. The patients were divided according to sex, age, and resistant characteristics; the statistical significance of the collected population was determined. Treatment regimens were followed as either a six-month regimen or nine-month regimen. Conclusion This study provides insights into the comparative efficacy of two TB treatment regimens. The findings highlight the importance of proper analysis of the resistance status of the drug and the initiation of medication over an appropriate period of time.

Job Satisfaction Among Healthcare Providers in a Tertiary Care Government Medical College and Hospital in Chhattisgarh.

Background The job satisfaction of healthcare providers is particularly relevant in service management because employees' level of job satisfaction impacts healthcare service users. A positive association is observed between the job satisfaction of healthcare providers and patient satisfaction. This study was conducted to determine the job satisfaction levels and their determinants among healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, and support staff) in a tertiary care hospital. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 healthcare providers of a tertiary care medical college and hospital. The questionnaire method was employed to collect demographic data. Job satisfaction level was assessed using the Job Satisfaction Survey Scale (JSS Scale). Results The mean overall satisfaction score among doctors was 123.05 ± 17.06, for nurses 127.4 ± 14.58, and for the support staff 138.46 ± 22.09. Among all three groups, employees' support staff were found to be more satisfied (40%), followed by doctors (15%) and nurses (6.67%), while the proportion of dissatisfied employees was highest among doctors (20%) than nurses (6.67%) and the support staff (6.67%). Satisfaction was significantly higher among the support staff compared to doctors and nurses. The level of satisfaction was found to be more in the younger staff (38.14%), regular job holders (33.33%), and fresh recruits (37.5%). Overall, satisfaction levels were found to be positively associated with factors such as the type and nature of work (64%) and relationships with co-workers (40%) and supervisors (36%) while more dissatisfied with factors such as interpersonal communication (70%), salary (54%), and promotional opportunities (42%). Conclusion The overall satisfaction among employees was only 20%. Factors such as job security, young age, and work experience were strongly associated with job satisfaction. Employees were more satisfied with the type and nature of work and relationships with co-workers while more dissatisfied with salary, promotional opportunities, and interpersonal communication.