Medical Specialties Commons^™

Analysis Of The Final Denali Trial Data: A Prospective, Multicenter Study Of The Denali Inferior Vena Cava Filter., S William Stavropoulos, James X Chen, Ronald F Sing, Fakhir Elmasri, Mitchell J Silver, Alex Powell, Frank C Lynch, Ahmed Kamel Abdel Aal, Alexandra Lansky, Bart E Muhs

Heart and Vascular Articles

PURPOSE: To report the final 2-year data on the efficacy and safety of a nitinol retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filter for protection against pulmonary embolism (PE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective multicenter trial of 200 patients with temporary indications for caval filtration who underwent implantation of the Denali IVC filter. After filter placement, all patients were followed for 2 years after placement or 30 days after filter retrieval. The primary endpoints were technical success of filter implantation in the intended location and clinical success of filter placement and retrieval. Secondary endpoints were incidence of clinically symptomatic recurrent …

Labrad : Vol 42, Issue 2 - October 2016, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi

LABRAD - Departments of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine and Radiology Archives

• Revised Nomenclature of Encapsulated Follicular Variant of Papillary Carcinoma; Now NIFTP in 2016
• Heritable Thrombophilia Screening: When & in Whom
• Massive Transfusion
• A Review of Innovance PFA-200 System
• Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation Osteogenic Tumors
• Pre Albumin or Transthyretin - A Useful Biomarker in the Assessment of Malnutrition
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in Children: A Pictorial Guide
• Validation of Test Methods in a Clinical Laboratory: A Brief Overview of the Concepts, Aims and Procedures
• Clinical Significance of Stone Composition Analysis in Urolithiasis Management

Lower Red Cell Transfusion Rates With Use Of Tranexamic Acid In Single-Stage Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Retrospective Audit, Muhammad Aziz, Salman Bin Mahmood,, Riaz Hussain Lakdawala, Tashfeen Ahmad

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract

Bilateral total knee arthroplasty (BTKA) patients may require blood transfusion which has its risks. Anti-fibrinolytic drugs such as aprotinin, aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid (TXA) have reduced transfusion requirements in major surgery. This retrospective audit was performed to assess effectiveness of TXA in reducing blood transfusion rate in single-stage sequential BTKA cases operated by a single surgeon. Records of 91 patients given TXA and 80 controls who were operated before 2012 and not given TXA were reviewed. TXA was given 15mg/kg intravenously (IV) before tourniquet deflation and 3 hours postoperatively.Blood transfusion was done in 9(10%) patients in the TXA …

Oncolog, Volume 61, Number 10, October 2016, Laura L. Russell, Joe Munch, Bryan Tutt, Z Ahmed

OncoLog MD Anderson's Report to Physicians (All issues) Archives

• Preventing Postoperative Urinary Tract Infections in Cancer Patients: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) increase morbidity, mortality and health care costs and prolong hospitalizations for patients who require urinary catheters-especially those who undergo long, complex surgeries or procedures to treat urological or gynecological cancers. To reduce the incidence of UTIs, clinicians at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center developed a quality improvement program for surgical patients at the institution.
• Study Offers a Starting Point for Testing Immunotherapy in Rectal Cancer Patients with Deficient DNA Mismatch Repair: A recent study's findings provide a starting point for assessing the efficacy of immunotherapy …

The Effect Of Increased Sleep On The Circadian Rhythm Of Salivary Cortisol Concentrations, Mariah Jacqueline Scott

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Cortisol is a salivary marker for the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) component of the stress response. The activity of the HPA demonstrates a circadian rhythm. It is well known that sleep deprivation increases cortisol concentrations. In this study, we looked at the effect of an increase of one-hour sleep for one month on the circadian rhythm of the HPA.

Eight college subjects (n=8) collected saliva during their normal sleep wake cycle every 4 hours for 24 hours. Saliva collections were repeated after a month of increase of sleep by 1-hour. The subjects also completed demographic forms that asked for age, sex, …

The Write Stuff - Autumn 2016 (Vol. 13, No. 4), Research Medical Library

Write Stuff 2016

• Using calendar dates in case reports
• How does an author’s leaving an institution affect in-progress manuscripts?
• What trainees should know before submitting manuscripts to the Department of Scientific Publications
• EQUATOR Network offers more than 300 specialized reporting guidelines
• Autumn and winter schedule for the Research Medical Library webinar program
• Unusual terms used in scientific writing and publishing: Red Journal, Gray Journal, and other colorful nicknames

The Road Into The Future Of Health Care: The Importance Of Addressing Access To Health Facilities In Transportation Infrastructure Investment Decisions, Nicola (Nikki) Van Den Heever

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Background: One school of thought argues that transportation infrastructure is not an ultimate end goal of development and therefore shouldn’t be addressed within development funding decisions while the other argues that transportation infrastructure is the crucial foundation from which all development efforts are based and therefore needs to be addressed within development funding decisions. Within this framework, there is a lack of academic and other research addressing how physical access to health care for pregnant women can better be addressed when making decisions regarding funding of transportation infrastructure projects.

Purpose: To demonstrate the importance of considering access to health care …

Immunomodulatory Effects Of Psyllium Extract On Helicobacter Pylori Interaction With Gastric Epithelial Cells., Javed Yakoob, Wasim Jafri, Malik Hassan Mehmood, Z Abbas, Kanwal Tariq

Section of Gastroenterology

Natural plant product Psyllium has anti-inflammatory activity that can modulate the function of cytokines. We determined the effect of Psylliumhusk extract on interleukin (IL)-8 and NF-κB secretion by gastric epithelial cells in response to Helicobacter pylori Human gastricadenocarcinoma cell line (AGS) cells were pretreated with Psyllium extract in different concentrations before H pylori infection. Cell culture supernatant was analyzed for IL-8 and NF-κB by ELISA. RNA from cells was used for real-time polymerase chain reaction for messenger RNA expression of IL-8. Psyllium extract 5 and 10 μg/mL markedly (P < .001) lowered basal IL-8 by 64.71% and 74.51%, respectively, and H pylori-stimulated IL-8 was also (P < .001) lowered by 41.67% and 66.67%, respectively. Psyllium 5 and 10 μg/mL also reduced (P < .0001) cagA-positive H pylori-induced IL-8 mRNA expression by 42.3% and 67.6%, respectively. Psyllium also reduced (P = .0001) NF-κB in response to H pylori strains confirming its role as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Delayed Presentation Of Forgotten Thyroid Goiter - 25 Years After Thyroidectomy, Fazal Wahab Khan, Ayesha Muhammad, Mohsin Abbas, Syed Usman Bin Mahmood, Benish Fatima, Saulat H. Fatimi

Section of Cardiothoracic Surgery

Forgotten goiter is a rare occurrence (2 - 16% of retrosternal thyroid cases) that depicts recurrence of retrosternal thyroid mass due to growth of remnant thyroid tissue overlooked during an initial thyroidectomy. The patient is a 59-year female who presented with dyspnea and stridor 25 years after total thyroidectomy. She was diagnosed as having a mediastinal mass on radiographic imaging. There were only localized pressure symptoms due to mass effect. The mass was excised employing an extra-cervical approach and using a partial sternotomy. The profuse extension of thyroid tissue, adherent to vital structures in the thorax and the extra-cervical thyroidectomy …

Post-Transplant Outcomes In High-Risk Compared With Non-High-Risk Multiple Myeloma: A Cibmtr Analysis., Emma C. Scott, Parameswaran Hari, Manish Sharma, Jennifer Le-Rademacher, Jiaxing Huang, Dan Vogl, Muneer Abidi, Amer Beitinjaneh, Henry Fung, Siddhartha Ganguly, Gerhard Hildebrandt, Leona Holmberg, Matt Kalaycio, Shaji Kumar, Robert Kyle, Hillard Lazarus, Cindy Lee, Richard T. Maziarz, Kenneth Meehan, Joseph Mikhael, Taiga Nishihori, Muthalagu Ramanathan, Saad Usmani, Jason Tay, David Vesole, Baldeep Wirk, Jean Yared, Bipin N. Savani, Cristina Gasparetto, Amrita Krishnan, Tomer Mark, Yago Nieto, Anita D'Souza

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Conventional cytogenetics and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) identify high-risk multiple myeloma (HRM) populations characterized by poor outcomes. We analyzed these differences among HRM versus non-HRM populations after upfront autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (autoHCT). Between 2008 and 2012, 715 patients with multiple myeloma identified by FISH and/or cytogenetic data with upfront autoHCT were identified in the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research database. HRM was defined as del17p, t(4;14), t(14;16), hypodiploidy (-Y) or chromosome 1 p and 1q abnormalities; all others were non-HRM. Among 125 HRM patients (17.5%), induction with bortezomib and immunomodulatory agents (imids) was higher …

Nutritional Status And Physical Abuse Among The Children Involved In Domestic Labour In Karachi Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Survey., Saima Zainab, Muhammad Masood Kadir

Community Health Sciences

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the prevalence of physical abuse among domestic child labours and to assess the nutritional status by calculating the Body Mass Index of children involved in domestic labour in Karachi.

METHODS:

A cross sectional study was conducted in the squatter settlements of Karachi. Questionnaire based interviews were conducted to capture physical abuse with 385 children who worked as domestic labour in the household of their employer. The ages of the children were between 10 to 14 years belonging to both genders. The children were enrolled in study by snow-ball sampling technique.

RESULTS:

The overall prevalence of physical abuse …

Practice Characteristics Of Emergency Department Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (Ecpr) Programs In The United States: The Current State Of The Art Of Emergency Department Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (Ed Ecmo)., Joseph E. Tonna, Nicholas J. Johnson, John Greenwood, David F. Gaieski, Zachary Shinar, Joseph M. Bellezo, Lance Becker, Atman P. Shah, Scott T. Youngquist, Michael P. Mallin, James Franklin Fair, Kyle J. Gunnerson, Cindy Weng, Stephen Mckellar

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: To characterize the current scope and practices of centers performing extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (eCPR) on the undifferentiated patient with cardiac arrest in the emergency department.

METHODS: We contacted all US centers in January 2016 that had submitted adult eCPR cases to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) registry and surveyed them, querying for programs that had performed eCPR in the Emergency Department (ED ECMO). Our objective was to characterize the following domains of ED ECMO practice: program characteristics, patient selection, devices and techniques, and personnel.

RESULTS: Among 99 centers queried, 70 responded. Among these, 36 centers performed ED ECMO. …

Using Low-Dose Radiation To Potentiate The Effect Of Induction Chemotherapy In Head And Neck Cancer: Results Of A Prospective Phase 2 Trial, Susanne M. Arnold, Mahesh Kudrimoti, Emily V. Dressler, John F. Gleason, Natalie L. Silver, William F. Regine, Joseph Valentino

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Purpose: Low-dose fractionated radiation therapy (LDFRT) induces effective cell killing through hyperradiation sensitivity and potentiates effects of chemotherapy. We report our second investigation of LDFRT as a potentiator of the chemotherapeutic effect of induction carboplatin and paclitaxel in locally advanced squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN).

Experimental Design: Two cycles of induction therapy were given every 21 days: paclitaxel (75 mg/m²) on days 1, 8, and 15; carboplatin (area under the curve 6) day 1; and LDFRT 50 cGy fractions (2 each on days 1, 2, 8, and 15). Objectives included primary site complete response …

Radiotherapy For Localised Ewing’S Sarcoma In Children, Masood Umer, Irfan Qadir, Ahmed Nadeem Abbasi, Zohra Lassi

Department of Surgery Docs

Umer M, Qadir I, Abbasi N, Das JK, Lassi ZS. Radiotherapy for localised Ewing's sarcoma in
children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD011105.
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011105. ... Radiotherapy for localised Ewing's sarcoma in children
(Protocol) Copyright © 2014 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons,
Ltd. ... Radiotherapy for localised Ewing's sarcoma in children (Protocol) Copyright © 2014 The
Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Functional Outcomes After Successful Lower Extremity Arterial Injuries Repair, Zia Ur Rehman, Ziad Sophie, Lekhraj. Mal

Department of Surgery Docs

bstract

The study was conducted to measure functional outcome of patients who had successful lower extremity arterial reconstruction after vascular injury at a tertiary care centre in Karachi over 5 years from January 2008 to December 2013. In this descriptive cohort study, the functional outcomes were assessed with lower extremity functional scale (LEFS). The mean age the 75 patients in the study was 32±11 years. Limb salvage was successful in 72(96%) cases. The most common injured artery was superficial femoral artery 30(40%) followed by popliteal artery 19(25%). The most common method of repair was end-to-end using either polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft …

Versatility Of The Anterolateral Thigh Flap: An Akuh Experience, Muhammad Fazlur Rehman, Muhammad Asif Ahsan, Muhammad Ubaid Khan, Sami Ullah, Sara Khan

Department of Surgery Docs

Anterolateral thigh flap is used for reconstruction of various soft tissue defects. We planned the study to evaluate the versatility of the anterolateral thigh flap as it may be used for reconstruction of head and neck, torso and extremities with minimal donor-site morbidity. The retrospective study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised date from October 2012 to December 2015. Of the 75 patients in which anterolateral thigh flap was used for reconstruction, 6(8%) flaps did not survive. The overall flap survival was 69(92%). Anterolateral thigh flap was versatile enough to provide soft tissue coverage to defects …

Bacterobilia In Acute Cholecystitis: Bile Cultures' Isolates, Antibiotic Sensitivities And Antibiotic Usage. A Study On A Pakistani Population, Yousaf Bashir Hadi, Muhammad Waqas, Hafiz Muhammad Umer,, Ammar Alam, Abdul Rehman Alvi, Muhammad Rizwan Khan, Amir Hafeez Shariff

Department of Surgery Docs

Acute cholecystitis is one of the most common acute surgical conditions. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains the mainstay of treatment. In patients managed non-operatively, antibiotics play an important role in the treatment of cholecystitis. The current retrospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, and comprised medical records of patients admitted between 2008 and 2014with acute cholecystitis and in whom bile cultures were obtained. Of the 509 patients with a mean age of 51.15 ± 13.4years, early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (within 72hours) was performed on 473(92.9%) cases, while the rest underwent percutaneous cholecystostomy. Bile cultureswere positive in 171(33.6%) patients. …

Cervical Mediastinoscopy In The Diagnosis Of Lymphadenopathy In South Asia., Sulaiman B Hasan, Fazal Wahab Khan, Shiraz Hashmi, Ahsan Ehtesham, Rizwana Ahmed Magsi, Syed Shahabuddin

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract

We planned to determine the clinical utility and safety of mediastinoscopy in the pathologic diagnosis of mediastinal lymphadenopathy and to determine disease patterns in a tertiary care setting in Karachi. The retrospective review comprised record of patients who underwent mediastinoscopy over 25 years between July, 1990 and August, 2015. Of the 122 patients, records were complete for 88(72%). Mean age was 42.5±12.9 years and 55(62.5%) were male. Overall, 60(68.2%) patients had benign inflammatory diseases; 25 (28.4%) had lymphoma or lung cancer which was accurately staged; 26(29.5%) had tuberculosis; 13(14.8%) sarcoidosis; and 11 (12.5%) had concomitant tuberculosis and sarcoidosis. No …

Intravesical Foreign Body: Tertiary Care Center Experience From Pakistan., Hussam Uddin Soomro,, Imran K. Jalbani, Nuzhat Faruqui

Department of Surgery Docs

Foreign body in bladder is relatively uncommon condition with variable presentations. Literature is limited to case reports and small series from region. Therefore, we planned this study to review our experience regarding intravesical foreign body. This retrospective study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised 14 patients having intravesical foreign bodies from March 1989 to March 2013. Demographics, presentation, mode of insertion, type of foreign body and management were noted. Of the 11(78.6%) patients included in the study, 10(90.9%) patients were male and 1(9.1%) was female. The mean age was 51± 20 years. In 5(45.5%) patients, …

Pediatric Laparoscopic Surgery; Initial Experience From Pakistan; First 100 Cases In Single Center, Hassan Ishaq, Saqib Hamid Qazi, Sohail Dogar, Muhammad Younus Khan Durrani,, Ahmad Vaqas Faruque

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract

In a developing country like Pakistan, laparoscopic surgeries are not considered favourable by many, possibly because of high costs or a lack of expertise. It is an established fact that laparoscopic surgery offers better surgical treatments with a shorter hospital stay and fewer complications. The current retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi and comprised of laparoscopy cases performed by a single surgeon from March 2012 to September of 2014. A total of 100laparoscopic surgeries were performed; mostly appendectomies 49(49%) and undescended testes (UDTs) 34(34%). Overall, there were 70(70%) male patients. The mean age of …

Neurosurgery Training In Pakistan: Follow-Up Survey And Critical Analysis Of National Training Programmes., Dr Saqib Kamran Bakhshi, Muhammad Waqas, Muhammad Mehboob Alam, Muhammad Shahzad Shamim, Mohsin Qadeer

Department of Surgery Docs

No abstract provided.

Paediatric External Ventricular Drains: Experience From A Tertiary Care Hospital Of A Developing Country, Abbas Qalab, Rayaan Asad, Mahnaz Hakeem,, Maria Ahmad, Anwar Haq, Aneela Darbar

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract

The aim of the study was to describe indications and complications of external ventricular drain (EVD) placement in children aged between 1 month and 16 years. This retrospective chart review was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised all children who underwent EVD placement from January 2007 to December 2014. Of the 177 patients identified, 117(66%) were males 60(34%) were girls. The overall mean age was 5.4±5.2 years. The median Glasgow Coma Scale score on presentation and discharge was 13 (interquartile range [IQR]: 7) and 15 (IQR: 4), respectively. Major diagnosis included intracranial tumour 60(34%), bacterial …

Paediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: Presentation, Prognostic Indicators And Outcome Analysis From A Tertiary Care Center In A Developing Country, Badar Uddin Ujjan, Muhammad Waqas, Muhammad Babar Khan, Saqib Kamran Bakhshi, Muhammad Ehsan Bari

Department of Surgery Docs

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. This study was conducted to report the presentation, management, outcomes and prognostic indicators in a large series of patients from a tertiary care centre in a developing country. It is a review of prospectively collected data of paediatric patients with TBI admitted at our centre between July 2010 and December 2013. A total of 291 patients with a mean age of 7.2±5.0 years were dichotomised into survivors and non-survivors, and variables were compared between the two groups. The mean post-resuscitation Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score …

Frequency Of Sensorineural Hearing Loss In Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media, Syed Sajjad Ali Zaidi, Hamdan Ahmed Pasha,, Anwar Suhail,, Talha Ahmed Qureshi

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is defined as chronic otorrhea (i.e., lasting > 6-12 weeks) through a perforated tympanic membrane. It is generally associated with some degree of conductive hearing loss. However, recurrent ear infections due to perforated eardrum result in absorption of toxins and macromolecules into the cochlea leading to sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). We planned to determine the frequency of sensorineural hearing loss in chronic suppurative otitis media. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Aga Kgan University Hospital, Karachi, from October 2013 to March 2014. Average threshold of speech frequencies was calculated via pure tone audiogram for …

Is Grown Up Congenital Heart (Guch) Disease Different In A Developing Country?, Syed Shahabuddin, Shiraz Hashmi, Syed Ezze Rakhshan,, Jamal Kabeer Khan, Shahid Ahmed Sami, Muneer Amanullah

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract

In the current era grown up congenital heart disease (GUCH) patients undergoing surgical interventions are increasing. Most of the interventions in the developed countries are either complex or redo-operations in patients who had previously undergone repair, palliation or correction. However, in the developing countries most of the interventions are primary and corrective. This descriptive retrospective study comprised GUCH patients who underwent surgical intervention for congenital heart disease (CHD) at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2006 to December 2015. A total of 195 patients had been treated surgically with a mean age of 31.0±13.5 years. Majority of the …

Bringing Efficiency Into Practice: A Quality Improvement Initiative To Reduce Operating Room Turnaround Time, Hasanat Sharif, , Noman Shehzad, Joveria Farooqi, Sana Karim

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract

Operating room (OR) turnaround time (TAT) is the minimal essential time required for cleaning of OR and preparation for the next case. The TAT inversely affects OR efficiency. Several factors related to personnel, equipment and scheduling have been identified as causes of increased TAT. We conducted the study to identify factors that affect OR TAT and to propose recommendations for its reduction. The retrospective study, conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, comprised TAT records related to March 2014. Of the 88 cases, 22(25%) showed a delay. Upon Pareto analysis it was found that in 8(36.6%) cases there was …

Breast Reconstruction At The Aga Khan University - A 10 Year Audit, Samiullah Abdullah, , Asif ,Ahsan, Tahir Shafi Khan

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract

Considering the high incidence of breast cancer and the subsequent need for a mastectomy, the number of patients having breastreconstruction remains relatively low the world over. Most studies from the west show that anywhere between 5% to around 50% of women proceed to reconstruction following a complete mastectomy. There is a great paucity of literature on the subject in Pakistan. Anecdotal and unofficial accounts would suggest that less than a fraction of 1% of women in Pakistan undergo reconstruction following a mastectomy.We reviewed our cases retrospectively over a 10 year study period from January 2005 to December 2014 with …

Does Obesity Affects Early Infection After Total Knee Arthroplasty. A Comparison Of Obese Vs Non Obese Patients, Waseem Ahmed, Riaz Hussain Lakdawala, Yasir Mohib, Aurangzeb Qureshi, Rizwan Haroon Rashid

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a disastrous complication after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) which can cause prosthesis loosening and may end up in septicaemia. The incidence of infection reported to be in the range of 0.3-12.4% for primary TKA. Significantly higher infection rate is found in the morbidly obese patients. The current study compared the immediate rate of post-total knee replacement wound infection in the obese versus non-obese population. The cross-sectional study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) and comprised patients undergoing TKA for primary knee osteoarthritis. Surgical outcome was measured by the Southampton wound infection score …

Indications Of Enucleations And Eviscerations Performed At A Tertiary Eye Care Unit: A Case Series., Rashid Baig, Maheen Akhtar Syed, Khabir Ahmad, Tanveer Anjum Chaudhry

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract

The retrospective study was planned to look at the indications of eye enucleations and eviscerations, and comprised all such procedures done at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2006 to December 2015. Data was collected regarding age at the time of procedure, gender, procedure type, indication for enucleation or evisceration, type of implant if used and complications. Of the 66 eyes of 65 individuals, 47 (71.2%) underwent evisceration and 19 (28.8%) enucleation. The mean age at the time of the procedures was 37.86±23.09 years. The indication for enucleation or evisceration were keratitis 14(21.2%), introcular tumours 13(19.7%), trauma …

Nosocomial Infections In The Icu: Pens And Spectacles As Fomites, Haris Farooq Murad, Khawaja Muhammad Inam Pal

Department of Surgery Docs

Abstract Nosocomial infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Non-medical objects known as fomites may have a role in their genesis. We investigated the significance of writing pens and spectacles asfomites. The study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from July 2013 to September 2013. Cultures were taken from pens and/or spectacles of resident nurses, doctors and nursing assistants in intensive care unit (ICU). Organisms important in ICU nosocomial infections were targeted. Seven rounds ofsampling over 3 weeksled to 55 pen and 5 spectacle samples. Growth was seen in 3(5.5%) pen samples and 1(20%) spectacle sample. …