Microbiological assessment of indoor air of a teaching hospital in Nigeria

Objective

To investigate the quality of indoor air of different wards and units of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, to ascertain their contribution to infection rate in the hospital.

Methods

The microbial quality of indoor air of nine wards/units of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Nigeria was conducted. Sedimentation technique using open Petri-dishes containing different culture media was employed and samplings were done twice daily, one in the morning shortly after cleaning and before influx of people/patients into the wards/units and the other in the evening when a lot of activities would have taken place in these wards. Isolates were identified according to standard methods.

Results

Results showed that there was a statistically significant difference (χ² = 6.016 7) in the bacteria population of the different sampling time whereas it was not so for fungi population (χ² = 0.285 7). Male medical ward (MMW) and male surgical general (MSG) recorded the highest bacterial and fungal growth while the operating theatre (OT) was almost free of microbial burden. The bacteria isolates were Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella sp., Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus pyogenes and Serratia marscences while the fungi isolates included Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., Candida albicans and Alternaria sp. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominantly isolated bacterium while Penicillium sp. was the most isolated fungus.

Conclusions

Though most of the microbial isolates were potential and or opportunistic pathogens, there was no correlation between the isolates in this study and the surveillance report of nosocomial infection during the period of study, hence the contribution of the indoor air cannot be established. From the reduction noticed in the morning samples, stringent measures such as proper disinfection and regular cleaning, restriction of patient relatives'' movement in and out of the wards/units need to be enforced so as to improve the quality of indoor air of our hospital wards/units.     

The role of the urology clinical nurse specialist in the multidisciplinary team meeting

Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) are increasingly the preferred method of cancer care in many specialties, including urology. MDTs provide a means of improving communication between health care professionals and patients and provide co‐ordinated and timely care. As MDTs have developed, so too has the role of the specialist cancer nurse, though the concept of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS), or their involvement in the MDT are not globally universal. There is increasing evidence that the presence of the CNS in the MDT improves patient satisfaction and team effectiveness. The MDT meeting is the focal point for decision‐making about patients' care, but the roles of health care professionals in the MDT meeting are variable and poorly defined. In this paper, we examine the evidence for the role of the CNS in the urology MDT meeting, which includes communicating with colleagues and patients, co‐ordinating care, as well as facilitating research and clinical governance. We discuss the challenges faced by CNSs and how their role in MDT meetings can be strengthened to enhance their effectiveness in the MDT in general.     

直视下尿道内切开术治疗尿道狭窄20年经验总结

目的 总结直视下尿道内切开术(direct vision internal urethrotomy,DVIU)治疗尿道狭窄的经验.方法 回顾性分析1990年6月至2010年6月20年间DVIU治疗尿道狭窄或闭锁患者361的临床资料.年龄16～72岁,平均38岁.病程3～78个月,平均16个月.狭窄或闭锁长度0.2～2.0 cm,平均1.1 cm.狭窄长度≤1.0 cm 238例,其中≤0.5 cm 63例(组1),0.6～1.0 cm 175例(组2),瘢痕厚度≤1.0 cm 148例,＞1.0 cm 90例;狭窄长度1.1～2.0 cm 123例,其中1.1～1.5cm 85例(组3),1.6～2.0 cm 38例(组4),瘢痕厚度≤1.0 cm 44例,＞1.0 cm 79例.结果 361例中手术失败3例.320例获随访,随访时间12～120个月,平均42个月.因狭窄复发而接受开放手术174例(54.4%),4组中转开放手术率分别为3.3%、49.7%、83.3%和97.1%.狭窄长度≤1.0cm者获随访207例,其中瘢痕厚度≤1.0 cm转开放手术27.2%(37/136),瘢痕厚度＞1.0 cm转开放手术60.6%(43/71).狭窄长度＞1.0 cm者获随访113例,其中瘢痕厚度≤1.0 cm转开放手术78.6%(33/42),瘢痕厚度＞1.0 cm转开放手术84.5%(60/71).结论 当尿道狭窄长度≤0.5 cm时,DVIU术后转开放手术的比例明显减少;狭窄长度≤1.0 cm,瘢痕厚度≤1.0 cm者,DVIU也可获较好疗效.

Abstract：

Objective To summarize the experience and evaluate the efficacy of treatment of urethral stricture using direct visual internal urethrotomy (DVIU).Methods The clinical data of 361 patients (age range 16 -72 years, mean age 38 years) with urethral stricture who underwent urethrotomy from 1990 to 2010 was retrospectively analyzed.The disease course ranged from three months to 78 months with a mean of 16 months.The stricture length ranged from 0.2 to 2.0 cm (mean 1.1 cm).Stricture length was split into four main groups:stricture length≤0.5 cm in 63 (group 1 ), stricture length ranging between 0.6 and 1.0 cm in 175 ( group 2), stricture length ranging between 1.0 and 1.5 cm in 85 ( group 3 ) , and stricture length ranging between 1.6 and 2.0 cm in 38 ( Group 4).Of the 238 patients with length less than 1.0 cm there were 148 who's scar thickness were less than 1.0 cm, and 90 who's scar thickness were greater than 1.0 cm.Of the 123 patients with length less than 2.0 cm there were 69 who's scar thickness was less than 1.0 cm, and 54 who's scar thickness was greater than 1.0 cm.Results Three patients with DVIU failed because of long occlusion and false passage.Three hundred and twenty patients were followed-up from 12 to 120 months (mean:42).Re-openiag procedures were performed on 174 patients (54.4%) due to recurrence.The re-openiag procedure rate was 3.3%, 49.7%, 83.3% and 97.1% in Group1, Group2,Group3 and Group4, respectively.On the basis of scar thickness, of the 207 patients with stricture length less than 1.0 cm, 38 of 136 patients (27.9%) with scar thickness less than 1.0 cm underwent opening operation, and 43 of 71 patients (60.6%) with scar thickness more than 1.0 cm underwent opening operation.One hundred and thirteen patients with stricture length more than 1.0 cm, 33 of 42 patients (78.6%) with scar thickness less than 1.0 cm underwent opening operation, and 60 of 71 patients (84.5%) with scar thickness more than 1.0 cm underwent opening operation.Conclusions Good efficacy can be achieved in patients whose urethral stricture length is less than 0.5cm or whose stricture length and scar thickness is less than 1.0 cm using DVIU.     

Effect of hyoscine butylbromide first stage of labour in multiparus women

Background

Prolonged labor is one of the most important risk factors for perinatal compromise and, if caused by obstructed labor, it carries the risk of uterine rupture, postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), puerperal sepsis, and maternal death.

Objective

To determine whether or not hyoscine butylbromide shortens the stages of labor, without an increase in maternal or neonatal complications.

Method

In single-blinded randomized clinical trial study, 188 multiparas women in active phase of labor who were admitted to Shahid Sadoughi Hospital from October 2006 to April 2007 in Yazd - Iran, were evaluated. They were divided hyoscine group (n = 94) received 20mg (1ml) of hyoscine and control group (n = 94) received 1 ml of normal saline was given as placebo, intravenously. The effects of hyoscine in shortening labor time; and neonatal Apgar score was compared.

Results

Duration of the first (mean± SD: 186.8 ± 125.6 minutes vs. 260.4 ± 120.9 minutes, p= 0.00 1) and second stage of labor (mean± SD: 20.0 ± 8.1minutes vs. 25.8 ± 9.4 minutes, p= 0.03) was shorter in hyoscine group.Frequency of cesarean section and mean of neonatal Apgar score at minutes of one and 5 were not different in both groups. No serious adverse events were seen in the two groups.

Conclusion

Injection of hyoscine in active phase of labor can be effective in shortening of labor without any adverse effect on mother and fetus.     

Leishmania mexicana Gp63 cDNA Using Gene Gun Induced Higher Immunity to L. mexicana Infection Compared to Soluble Leishmania Antigen in BALB/C

Background

Leishmaniasis is a worldwide disease prevalent in tropical and sub tropical countries. Many attempts have been made and different strategies have been approached to develop a potent vaccine against Leishmania. DNA immunisation is a method, which is shown to be effective in Leishmania vaccination. Leishmania Soluble Antigen (SLA) has also recently been used Leishmania vaccination.

Methods

The immunity generated by SLA and L. mexicana gp63 cDNA was compared in groups of 6 mice, which were statistically analysed by student t- test with the P-value of 0.05. SLA was administered by two different methods; intramuscular injection and injection of dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with SLA. L. mexicana gp63 cDNA was administered by the gene gun.

Results

Immunisation of BALB/c mice with L. mexicana gp63 resulted in high levels of Th1-type immune response and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) activity, which were accompanied with protection induced by the immunisation against L. mexicana infection. In contrast, administration of SLA, produced a mixed Th1/Th2-type immune responses as well as a high level of CTL activity but did not protect mice from the infection.

Conclusion

The results indicate higher protection by DNA immunisation using L. mexicana gp63 cDNA compared to SLA, which is accompanied by a high level of Th1 immune response. However, the CTL activity does not necessarily correlate with the protection induced by the vaccine. Also, gene gun immunisation is a potential approach in Leishmania vaccination. These findings would be helpful in opening new windows in Leishmania vaccine research.     

老年人新型冠状病毒肺炎中药防治的合理用药策略

目的：促进老年人新型冠状病毒肺炎中药防治的安全性及合理性。方法：根据全国各省制定的新型冠状病毒肺炎中医药预防方案，结合老年人的生理特质、病理情况、基础疾病及用药特点进行分析。结果：提出老年人新型冠状病毒肺炎中药防治的合理用药策略。结论：老年人作为预防新冠病毒感染的重点人群，应加强合理用药干预，确保中药用药安全有效。     

2015 - 2018年陕西省死因监测网报病例来源分析

目的 解陕西省死因监测病例来源分布，为提高死因监测数据的完整性和准确性提供依据。方法 从《中国疾病预防控制信息系统 - 死因报告信息系统》中导出的陕西省13个国家级死因监测点2015 - 2018年的网报数据进行分析。结果 2015 - 2018年陕西省13个国家级监测点共报告死亡病例129 740例，其中男性75 773例，女性53 688例。分别报告32 489例、33 212例、31 533例和32 227例死亡病例，各年性别比例均衡，趋势无统计学意义（趋势χ2 = 1.84，P = 0.17）。死亡病例主要来源于乡镇卫生院，占58.80%～61.51%，其次为社区卫生服务中心和县及县以上综合医院，二者分别报告占17.60%～19.81%和17.19%～18.69%（趋势χ2 = 27.79，P＜0.01），在家中死亡的比例占绝大多数，73.06%～76.52%，死于医疗卫生机构的占17.67%～19.93%（趋势χ2 = 38.81，P＜0.01）。死亡病例生前最高诊断单位以二级医院（占46.36%～49.93%）和三级医院（占41.75%～45.63%）为主（趋势χ2 = 48.80，P＜0.01），最高诊断依据以临床+理化为主（占60.74%～63.57%）。结论 陕西省死因监测中发现虽然大多数病人在二级或三级医院就诊，且这一比例逐年提高，但绝大多数死亡病例死于家中，主要由乡镇卫生院专干完成死亡病例卡网报。因此，在今后工作中应加强对乡镇卫生院及社区卫生服务中心的培训，定期开展数据查漏补报和质量核查工作。