Search

Objective: This study aims to determine the coinfection rate of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, investigate the etiological agents causing coinfection, and reveal the clinical characteristics of patients with coinfection. In addition, by identifying coinfections accompanying viral infections, we aim to prevent unnecessary antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance. Methods: This study analyzed 76 hospitalized patients with prediagnoses of COVID-19 between Sep 2021 and Feb 2022. They had a positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, compatible thoracic Computed Tomography findings, and biochemical parameters indicating coinfection. Patients' respiratory samples were tested for other respiratory pathogens by multiplex PCR. Results: Out of 76 patients, 54 (71.1%) were found to have one or more pathogens along with SARS-CoV-2. Among these patients, 35 had a single pathogen, while 19 had multiple pathogens. The most common pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus in 24 (31.6%) patients, influenza viruses in 18 patients (23.7%), and Streptococcus pneumoniae in 15 (17.1%) patients. There was no significant difference between mortality rates, length of hospital stay, hospitalization site, biochemical parameters (C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, lactate dehydrogenase, D-dimer, lymphocyte count, ferritin level) between patients with and without coinfection. Conclusion: Although no significant difference was found in parameters such as mortality rates and length of hospital stay in patients with comorbid pathogens in our study, we think that clinicians should take the risk of coinfection into account in the follow-up and treatment of hospitalized patients and perform appropriate tests in suspected cases. Our study showed that the viral and bacterial pathogens accompanying SARS-CoV-2 are significant and that more specific and large-scale studies are needed to examine the clinical effects of these factors. We also believe that influenza, pneumococcal, and COVID-19 vaccines should not be ignored, especially in risk groups, during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Balikesir Health Sciences Journal / Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Balikesir Health Sciences Journal (BAUN Health Sci J) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Pregnancy increases susceptibility to respiratory complications of viral diseases. Managing obstetric emergencies in the Covid-19 pandemic poses a challenge as timely care and intervention are needed to save the life of mother and baby. This study aims to evaluate our anesthesia practices in pregnant women with Covid-19 undergoing cesarean section. Materials and Methods: A total of 69 patients who under went cesarean section and had positive Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing for Covid-19 with nasopharyngeal swabs were included in the study. Patient demographics and information about anesthesia were analyzed retrospectively from the patient medical files. Results: A total of 69 parturients undergoing cesarean section that had positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests were assessed. General anesthesia was applied to only one patients, while spinal anesthesia was administered to there maining 68 patients . While the rate of pneumonia in symptomatic patients was %31,88 (22/69) parturients. Twelve Covid-19 patients required intensive care in the perioperative period. The overall mortality rate was 8,69 % (6/69) among parturients with Covid-19 undergoing cesarean section. Conclusions: It was observed that Covid-19 is associated with mortality in pregnant women undergoing cesarean section. Spinal anesthesia was safely and effectively administered in Covid-19 parturients, especially in patients with pneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Balikesir Health Sciences Journal / Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Balikesir Health Sciences Journal (BAUN Health Sci J) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: In order to guide the improvement in the national judicious antibiotic use policy, the socio-cultural, socio-demographic, and cognitive factors that may potentially influence the prescribing habits of pediatricians, family physicians and general practitioners to upper respiratory tract infections in children were investigated. Materials and Methods: After receiving approval from ethic committee, questionnaire was sent to 7421 physicians who had been practicing in the different regions of the country. Responses obtained from 1477 of them were evaluated by multivariate analysis to demonstrate independent effect of each factor influencing the prescribing habits. Results: Our results have shown that being a pediatrician, working in medical school, and spending enough time for physical examination were independently associated with less antibiotic prescription. Family physicians and general practitioners were more likely to prescribe antibiotics for viral upper respiratory infections in children. Conclusions: The most important modifying factors about antibiotic prescription habits for upper respiratory tract infections in children were physical examination period and quality of education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: Adverse drug reaction is noxious and unwanted reaction to drugs at dose used in humans for diagnosis, treatment or prophylaxis. Adverse drug reaction monitoring is an area of drug information that has been given little attention yet. Spontaneous reporting is currently the major back bone for the detection of adverse drug reactions. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of adverse drug reaction reporting among health professionals in selected health facilities in southwest Ethiopia. METHOD: A cross-sectional study design was used among health professionals in selected health facilities in January 2010. Prescribers other than physicians, junior pharmacy technicians and also health assistants were excluded. Data was collected using self administered questionnaires from volunteered physicians (Medical interns and above), nurses (Diploma and above) and Pharmacy professionals (Diploma and above) and analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. RESULTS: A total of 82 health professionals were participated in the study. From those 82 participants, only 19 (23.17%) and 21 (25.61%) knew the existence of national reporting system and a yellow card of adverse drug reaction reporting form. Thirteen (15.85%) participants encountered adverse drug reaction in the past 12 months in their clinical activities, but none of them reported to responsible body. Even though the participants' knowledge and practice were inadequate, most of the respondents 47 (57.31%) agreed that adverse drug reaction reporting is part of duty of them and important to the public in general and to the patient in particular. CONCLUSION: There was no documentation and reporting of adverse drug reaction, which might partly be explained by lack of knowledge and misconceptions about spontaneous reporting. Our study strongly suggests that there is a great need to create awareness and to promote the reporting of adverse drug reaction amongst health professionals, which will lay a solid foundation for healthcare professionals to be diligently involved in quality pharmacovigilance and spontaneous reporting in their future practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Antibiotics are the most frequently used drugs in our country, as being all over the world. It has been shown that the rate of inappropriate use of antibiotics is around 40% to 60% in hospitals. Excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics causes emergence of resistant organisms, significant adverse effects, increased costs and increased morbidity and mortality. Methods: This study was carried out at Midyat State Hospital between June 2007 and June 2008. The period of time between June 2006 and June 2007 and between June 2007 and June 2008 are defined as Period I and II, respectively. Antibiotics which were given to inpatients and for surgical prophylaxis were followed up. Subsequently, usage ratios of antibiotics in Period I and II were compared for a cost-utility analysis. Results: The total cost of inappropriate antibiotic use per year was calculated as 55 750.4 TL in our hospital. However, the most frequent cause of inappropriate use in surgical prophylaxis was related to prolonged use of prophylactic antibiotics (16.2%). Conclusions: Several strategies for regulating antimicrobial prescribing practices may be proposed, such as formulary replacement or restriction, healthcare provider education, feedback activities, and approval from an infectious diseases physician. However, a multidisciplinary antibiotic team organized for hospitals to approve the appropriate antibiotic use may be another alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: This study was carried out as a definitive work in order to determine the thoughts and anxiety levels of nursing students intended for clinical practice. METHODS: The scope of the research was composed of the students who took Essentials of Profession lesson at first grade, Surgery at second grade and Child Diseases at third grade in Mugla University, Mugla School of Health Sciences Department of Nursing. Of 149 students, 126 (%84.36) were completed the study. Data was collected using a questionnaire prepared by the researchers and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. RESULTS: The mean age of the students included in the study was 20.15±1.52 years. 77.8% of the nursing students stated that they feel ready for the clinical practice, 51.6% thought that their theoretical knowledge was not sufficient for the clinical practice, 46% there were applications that they were afraid to perform during the clinical practice and 50.8% stated that they were excited about the clinical practice. There was a statistically significant difference average score of state anxiety level between pre and post clinical practice results of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that anxiety levels of nursing students were higher before they start clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adverse effects of drugs are frequently encountered in clinical practice. Drug allergies occur due to the development of drug specific antibody's or sensitized T cells. Symptoms are nonspesific and may involve one or more organ systems. Diagnosis is based on the clinical findings.. Shin tests are only available for limited number of drugs. These are performed as prick, intradermal or patch tests. Laboratory evaluation is expensive, time consuming and only meaningful after serial measurements. Application of provocation tests under appropriate conditions give valuable information for diagnosis of drug allergies. Prevention of drug reactions is very important. Drugs must be used for absolute indication. Alternative therapy medications should be chosen for patients with known drugs allergy history. Premedication may be useful for sonic drugs. If there is not an available alternative for the drug that the allergic patient needs, desensitization may be practised. If a reaction developes in spite of all the precautions, local and systemic reactions must be treated properly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original drugs are protected by the world's most powerful patent protection laws for a certain period of time and sonar equivalent (generic) drugs may be manifactured at the end of the patent protection period. Generic drugs are not only pharmaceutical drugs equivalent to the original generic drugs, but they should also be bioequivalent. Countries who want to reduce health costs, may provide significant savings by using generics. Generic drugs are usually 20-80% cheaper than the originals. It has been announced that TL 3 billion 879 million was saved from the total health expenditures between the years 2004-2008 with the use of generics. Since it is planned that the general health insurance system will eventuate and therefore the health system will cover almost all the population, the use of generic drugs which are much cheaper than the originals- will provide benefit in terms saving from the public health expenditures will provide advantages in terms of savings. According to the impression we have obtained from clinical practice and research data, we believe that the generics which are manifactured under control and cover the necessary rules, are as effective as the originals. On the other hand, limited clinical observations with some generics may justify the doubts of the clinicians. We believe that these doubts can be eliminated by the strict control conducted by the regulators in the light of feedback obtained from the clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]