Search

Objective: To determine the frequency of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRI) and associated risk factors. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jul 2019 to Aug 2020. Methodology: After approval from the Ethical Review Board, 126 children were included in the study. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from children. The direct immunofluorescence method was utilized to detect intracellular viral antigens of the respiratory syncytial virus. In addition, the presence of symptoms and history for identification of the presence or absence of risk factors was recorded. Results: 57(45.2%) patients were found to be respiratory syncytial virus positive, and 69(54.8%) were respiratory syncytial virus negative. Significant differences were found in symptoms between RSV-positive and negative children (p=0.001). Conclusion: Respiratory syncytial virus was among the leading causes of children hospitalized with acute lower respiratory tract infections, with fever and recurrent wheezing as the most common symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine in vitro efficacy of Imipenem/Relebactam against multi-drug resistant strains. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Fauji Foundation Hospital (FFH) Rawalpindi, Pakistan from Jul to Dec 2022. Methodology: All specimens from indoor and outdoor patients with infection due to Gram-negative organisms showing resistance to Imipenem disc (10µg) were included. Cultures were inoculated on Blood and MacConkey's agar. Imipenem-resistant Gram-negative species identification was made by Gram stain, Oxidase test and commercially available identification strips Analytical profile index 10S (API-10S) (from bioMerieux, Inc.).Imipenem-resistant species were identified, showing a zone diameter of less than 23mm against10µg Imipenem disc for Enterobacterale and Non-Enterobacterales, and for Pseudomonas species, zone size is ≤19mm. These resistant organisms were tested for sensitivity against Imipenem/Relebactam by E-strip (MTSTM -MIC Test Strip) (Liofilchem, Inc., Waltham, MA). Results: Out of 160 Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterale and Non-Enterobacterales specimens, only 14 isolates (including 02 Pseudomonas spp.) showed susceptibility to Imipenem/Relebactam combination of drug. US-FDA Imipenem/Relebactam susceptibility interpretive criteria (STIC) was used. Conclusion: In our setup, only 8.75% isolates showed sensitivity to this newer drug combination Imipenem/Relebactum. This highlights the importance of evaluating newer drugs in our population before using them empirically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the association between vitamin D status and rsecurrent wheezing. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Paediatrics, Pak Emirates Military Hospital (PEMH), Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Aug 2019 to Aug 2020. Methodology: Sixty infants with recurrent wheezing and 60 healthy age-matched infants without acute or chronic illness were inducted into the study. 25 (OH) Vitamin D, immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and eosinophil counts were measured. In addition, data were analyzed to find the association of vitamin D levels with recurrent wheezing. Results: In the Control-Group, the mean 25 (OH) vitamin D levels were 25.90±7.57 ng/ml and in the Recurrent Attack- Group was 13.90±4.63 ng/ml (p= 0.02). The mean IgE levels of the Control-Group were 22.80±2.67 IU/ml, and the Recurrent Attack-Group was 149.20±30.60 IU/ml (p=0.001). Eosinophil count in Recurrent Attack-Group was 150.40±23.11 cells/uL and 338.95±33.50 cells/uL in Control-Group respectively (p= 0.08) Conclusion: There is a strong association between low vitamin D levels and recurrent wheezing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]