Pathology Commons^™

Vitamin B12 Deficiency--A Major Cause Of Megaloblastic Anaemia In Patients Attending A Tertiary Care Hospital, Saira Perwaiz Iqbal, Ghulam Nabi Kakepoto, Saleem Perwaiz Iqbal

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

BACKGROUND: Folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been known to cause megaloblastic anaemia. Since the deficiencies of these two vitamins are very common in Pakistani population, it would be imperative to investigate their role in causing megaloblastic anaemia. The objective of this study was to find out the contribution of folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies in causing megaloblastic anaemia in our patient population.

METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, clinical records of 220 patients (101 females and 119 males with an age range of 1-80 years) who presented themselves with macrocytic anaemia at the Aga Khan University Hospital were collected. …

Evaluation Of Two Elisa Assay Kits Against Rt-Pcr For Diagnosis Of Dengue Virus Infection In A Hospital Setting In Karachi, Pakistan, Erum Khan, Vikram Mehraj, Amna Nasir, Nabil Ahmad Khan, Bushra Billoo, Tariq Moatter, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate two commercially available ELISA-based kits against RT-PCR for the diagnosis of dengue virus infection in a Tertiary Care center in Karachi.METHODS: During the 2006 Dengue outbreak, sera were collected from patients clinically classified as dengue fever and graded according to WHO grading. Out of these, 83 samples were selected randomly and analyzed using two different commercial kits (PanBio versus Calbiotech) and were compared with RT-PCR. Clinical charts of the inpatients were also reviewed. Statistical significance was considered at P < or = 0.05.RESULTS: Clinically, a total of 29 (69%) in-patients were diagnosed with dengue haemorrhagic fever, the remaining 13 (30.9%) were diagnosed as dengue fever. Diagnostic PCR was positive in 73 (87.9%) of the total 83 patients. PanBio capture ELISA had a sensitivity of 83.5%. Calbiotech on the other hand, had a sensitivity of 50.7%. The association of PanBio assay with PCR was found to be statistically significant (p

The Frequency Of Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia In Patients Undergoing Elective Cardiac Bypass Surgeries, Natasha Bahadur Ali, Bushra Moiz, Yasmin Rehman, Mohammad Salman, Shahid Ahmed Sami

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective: To determine the frequency of Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT) in patients undergoing elective cardiac bypass surgeries and to observe the platelets evolution post surgically in these patients.
Method: A prospective study was designed and 100 unselected consecutive patients undergoing elective cardiac bypass surgery were enrolled and evaluated. The clinical and laboratory details were noted before and after surgery. Their platelet counts were observed from day 0 (prior to surgery) to day 5 post operatively. Particle gel immunoassay was used to demonstrate the presence of antibodies against heparin-platelet factor 4 complexes.
Results: There were 86 males and 14 females with …

Oral Iron Chelation Therapy With Deferiprone In Patients With Thalassemia Major, Raihan Sajid, Farooq Ghani, Salman Adil, Mohammad Khurshid

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and adverse effects of deferiprone in patients with Thalassemia Major.

METHODS: A prospective case series study was conducted at the Fatimid Foundation Blood Bank and Haematological Diseases center Lahore. A total of 87 patients entered into the study between September 2005 and November 2006. Deferiprone was given at subsidized rates at a dose of 75/mg/day for seven days. Physical examination and initial Laboratory investigations were done in all patients at the start of the study. Physical and laboratory data were filled on a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 10.0.

RESULTS: Eighty seven patients with …

Impact Of Infection Control Activities On The Rate Of Needle Stick Injuries At A Tertiary Care Hospital Of Pakistan Over A Period Of Six Years: An Observational Study., Afia Zafar, Faiza Habib, Roshan Hadwani, Muslima Ejaz, Khurshid Khowaja, Rozina Khowaja, Seema Irfan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background:Accidental exposure to blood and body fluids is frequent among health care workers. They are at high risk of nosocomial transmission of blood borne pathogens due to injuries caused by used sharps. We are reporting impact of surveillance and educational program on the rate of needle stick injuries among health care workers at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.

Methods:

At Aga Khan University Hospital sharp injuries are reported to infection control office. To reduce these incidents a quality improvement project was inducted in the year 2005. Health care workers were educated, surveillance data from 2002 to 2007 was …

Antimicrobial Resistance Profile Of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcal Aureus From Skin And Soft Tissue Isolates, Faiza Idrees, Kauser Jabeen, Muhammad Shoaib Khan, Afia Zafar

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate resistance rates in methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) against clindamycin, cotrimoxazole, tetracycline, fusidic acid, rifampicin and chloramphenicol isolated from skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI).

METHODS: Descriptive analysis of SSTI samples yielding MRSA in clinical laboratory of a tertiary care center; receiving specimens across Pakistan from January 2005 to June 2007.

MICROBIOLOGICAL METHODS: MRSA were identified using standard microbiological techniques. Susceptibility testing was performed by disc diffusion according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) against fusidic acid, tetracycline, cotrimoxazole, clindamycin, rifampicin and chloramphenicol. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of rifampicin were determined using agar dilution method according to …

Esat6-Induced Ifngamma And Cxcl9 Can Differentiate Severity Of Tuberculosis., Zahra Hasan, Bushra Jamil, Mussarat Ashraf, Muniba Islam, Muhammad S Yusuf, Javaid A Khan, Rabia Hussain

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: Protective responses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis are dependent on appropriate T cell and macrophage activation. Mycobacterial antigen six kDa early secreted antigenic target (ESAT6) and culture filtrate protein 10 (CFP10) can detect M. tuberculosis specific IFNgamma responses. However, most studies have been performed in non-endemic regions and to study pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). We have studied ESAT6 and CFP10 induced cytokine and chemokines responses in PTB and extrapulmonary (EPul) TB.
Methodology: IFNgamma, IL10, CXCL9 and CCL2 responses were determined using an ex vivo whole blood assay system in PTB (n = 30) and EPulTB Patients with limited (LNTB, n = …

Spectrum Of Tamoxifen Associated Endometrial Pathology In Breast Cancer Patients, Asim Qureshi, Farhan Bukhari, Shahid Pervez

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

The objective of the study was to determine the incidence and type of endometrial abnormalities in long-term users of tamoxifen with breast cancer. All patients with a diagnosis of Oestrogen Receptor positive breast cancer on Tamoxifen therapy who had also undergone endometrial biopsy for abnormal bleeding or other symptoms were included. Among the 37 cases that had long-term follow up available, 21(57%) had evidence of endometrial pathology. There were seven cases of simple hyperplasia and thirteen of endometrial polyp. Only one case of endometrial carcinoma was seen. These findings support the association between prolonged tamoxifen therapy and endometrial pathology of …

Cytokine Gene Polymorphisms Across Tuberculosis Clinical Spectrum In Pakistani Patients., Ambreen Ansari, Najeeha Talat, Bushra Jamil, Zahra Hasan, Tashmeem Razzaki, Ghaffar Dawood, Rabia Hussain

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background:Pakistan ranks 7(th) globally in terms of tuberculosis (TB) disease burden (incidence 181/100000 pop./yr, prevalence of 329/pop./yr). Reports from different populations show variable associations of TB susceptibility and severity with cytokine gene polymorphisms. Tuberculosis clinical severity is multi-factorial and cytokines play a pivotal role in the modulation of disease severity. We have recently reported that the ratio of two key cytokines (IFNgamma and IL10) show significant correlation with the severity spectrum of tuberculosis. The objective of the current study was to analyze the frequency of cytokine gene polymorphisms linked to high and low responder phenotypes (IFNgamma +874 T(hi)-->A(lo) …

From Genome-Based In Silico Predictions To Ex Vivo Verification Of Leprosy Diagnosis, Annemieke Geluk, John S. Spencer, Kidist Bobosha, Maria C. V. Pessolani, Geraldo M. B. Pereira, Sayera Banu, Nadine Honore, Stephen T. Reece, Murdo Macdonald, Bishwa Raj Sapkota, Chaman Ranjit, Kees L. M. C. Franken, Martha Zewdie, Abraham Aseffa, Rabia Hussain, Mariane M. Stefani, Sang-Nae Cho, Linda Oskam, Patrick J. Brennan, Hazel M. Dockrell

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

The detection of hundreds of thousands of new cases of leprosy every year suggests that transmission of Mycobacterium leprae infection still continues. Unfortunately, tools for identification of asymptomatic disease and/or early-stage M. leprae infection (likely sources of transmission) are lacking. The recent identification of M. leprae-unique genes has allowed the analysis of human T-cell responses to novel M. leprae antigens. Antigens with the most-promising diagnostic potential were tested for their ability to induce cytokine secretion by using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from leprosy Patients and controls in five different areas where leprosy is endemic, 246 individuals from Brazil, Nepal, Bangladesh, …

Fibromatous Periorchitis, Khurram Minhas, Abrar Barakzai, Asim Qureshi

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

We report a case of diffuse fibrous pseudotumour/fibromatous periorchitis, in a 43 year old male, that completely encased the right testis and was adjacent to a hydrocoele cavity. Although fibrous pseudotumours of this region are uncommon, they are reported to be the second most common benign paratesticular lesion after adenomatoid tumours. These comprise approximately 6 percent of paratesticular lesions, and are accepted as reactive lesions secondary to trauma, hydrocoele, infections or inflammation. Fibrous pseudotumours have a peak incidence in the third decade of life but can occur at any age. Clinically these lesions mimic malignancy resulting in the treatment by …

Cd20 Positivity In Classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Diagnostic Challenge Or Targeting Opportunity., Muhammad Abrar Barakzai, Shahid Ahmed

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

BACKGROUND:It is now well established that Hodgkin cells are clonal B cells with a CD30 and CD15 phenotype. However, on immunohistochemistry, in our experience and the experience of others, CD20 positivity in an otherwise typical classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma is not uncommon and if associated with CD15 negativity poses a potential diagnostic trap and is likely to be called B-NHL.
OBJECTIVE:To assess the frequency of B-cell related antigens CD20 and CD79a in classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:A total of 91 consecutive cases of classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma were analyzed for co-expression of CD20 and CD79a. Both males and …

Antimicrobial Activity Of Tigecycline Against Nosocomial Pathogens In Pakistan: A Multicenter Study, Altaf Ahmed, Afia Zafar, Sajjad Mirza

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

OBJECTIVE: To measure the in-vitro activity of various antibiotics including tigecycline against Gram negative and positive nosocomial aerobic isolates. METHODS: A total of 430 clinical isolates of both Gram positive (143) and negative (287) aerobic bacteria were used from 3 centres during the year 2006 and 2007. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using broth micro dilution panels. Antibiotic resistance was interpreted using CLSI guidelines.
RESULTS: Most of the isolates were resistant to more than one drug. Resistance to tigecycline was not found. Tigecycline (1 microg/ml) had low MIC against organisms tested.
CONCLUSION: This data indicates that tigecycline, …

Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury--Trali: An Under Diagnosed Entity, Bushra Moiz, Hasanat Sharif, Fauzia Ahmad Bawany

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a life-threatening complication of transfusion of blood and its components resembling acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or acute lung injury (ALI). TRALI is a particular form of ARDS that follows blood transfusion and is caused by donor-derived antibodies present in the transfused products, reacting with the recipients' blood cells, inducing release of inflammatory mediators thus compromising lung functions. Anti-HLA antibodies are the most frequently indicted inducers in this category. Literature search has not revealed any documented case of TRALI from Pakistan. This in no way implies that TRALI is non existent in this …

Presentation Of A Patient With Palpable Purpuric Rash, Safoorah Khalid, Mohammad Khurshid

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Henoch Shonlein purpura (HSP) is a form of systemic vasculitis characterized by deposition of IgA dominant immune complexes in the small vessels. The triad of palpable purpuric rash on lower extremities, abdominal or renal involvement and arthritis is the typical presentation in this condition. The disease primarily affects children and is less common in adults. We report a case of a young female who presented with palpable purpura on legs, classical symptoms of HSP i.e. arthritis and off and on abdominal pain.

Genotyping And Drug Resistance Patterns Of M. Tuberculosis Strains In Pakistan., Mahnaz Tanveer, Zahra Hasan, Amna R Siddiqui, Asho Ali, Akbar Kanji, Solomon Ghebremicheal, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background:The incidence of tuberculosis in Pakistan is 181/100,000 population. However, information about transmission and geographical prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains and their evolutionary genetics as well as drug resistance remains limited. Our objective was to determine the clonal composition, evolutionary genetics and drug resistance of M. tuberculosis isolates from different regions of the country.

Methods:

M. tuberculosis strains isolated (2003-2005) from specimens submitted to the laboratory through collection units nationwide were included. Drug susceptibility was performed and strains were spoligotyped.

Results:

Of 926 M. tuberculosis strains studied, 721(78%) were grouped into 59 "shared types", while 205 (22%) were identified …

Response Of Imitanib Meysylate In Patients With Gastrointestinal Stromal Cell Tumour, Abdullah Ladha, Mohammad Usman Shaikh

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

In this study, the response of Imitanib Mesylate in patients with Gastro-intestinal stromal cell tumour (GIST) was assessed. GIST results from a mutation in one of the receptor protein tyrosine kinases. Imitanib Mesylate, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has emerged as a promising new treatment for GISTs. Total 16 cases were reviewed. Diagnosis was based on biopsy and immunohistochemistry. Response assessment was done using CT scans, at a median duration of 4 months. The median age of the patients was 52 years, Majority were male (n=14). Most common presenting complaint was abdominal pain (n=7). Commonest primary site was stomach (n=7), Liver …

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Intestinal Parasitic Infection Among Children In An Urban Slum Of Karachi., Vikram Mehraj, Juanita Hatcher, Saeed Akhtar, Ghazala Rafique, Mohammad Asim Beg

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background:Intestinal parasitic infections are endemic worldwide and have been described as constituting the greatest single worldwide cause of illness and disease. Poverty, illiteracy, poor hygiene, lack of access to potable water and hot and humid tropical climate are the factors associated with intestinal parasitic infections. The study aimed to estimate prevalence and identify factors associated with intestinal parasitic infections among 1 to 5 years old children residing in an urban slum of Karachi Pakistan. Methods And Principal
Findings:A cross sectional survey was conducted from February to June 2006 in Ghosia Colony Gulshan Town Karachi, Pakistan. A simple random …

Minimally Invasive Papillary Carcinoma Of The Extrahepatic Bile Ducts, Samia Fatima, Zubair Ahmad, Asim Qureshi, Khurram Minhas, Inam Pal

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Invasive papillary carcinomas of the Extrahepatic Bile Ducts (EBD) are uncommon (4-5%). The course is less aggressive than conventional adenocarcinomas of the extrahepatic bile ducts. Non-invasive and minimally invasive papillary carcinomas are even rarer, behave as in-situ carcinomas and are associated with excellent long-term prognosis. A variety of lesions of the EBD that show papillary architecture should be distinguished from papillary carcinoma. Here, we report a case of papillary carcinoma of the common bile duct showing minimal invasion. Separation of invasive from non-invasive or minimally invasive papillary carcinoma is critical in estimating the patient outcome.

Spot Urine Protein: Creatinine Ratio Versus 24 Hour Urine Protein At Various Levels Of Gfr Patients Referred To A Tertiary Care Hospital Of Pakistan, Absar Ali, Naila Asif, Sonia Yaqub, Waqar Kashif, Diamond Merchant, Iffat Yazdant

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation of "random single voided urine protein: creatinine ratio" to "twenty four hour urine protein" at different levels of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in Pakistani population.

METHODS: A total of 107 patients were included in this cross section study. Patients were divided into five groups according to the GFR. Spot urine protein: creatinine ratio and 24 hour urine protein was measured by the standard methods. The correlation coefficient ( r) between the two was calculated in each group separately.

RESULTS: The GFR in groups 1 to 5 was > or =90, 60-89, 30-59, 15-29, and /minute/1.73 m2 …

Frequency And Clinical Spectrum Of Rare Inherited Coagulopathies--A Tricenter Study, Safoorah Khalid, Fareena Bilwani, Salman Naseem Adil, Mohammad Khurshid

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of rare inherited coagulopathies at three centers of haematology in Karachi and to study the clinical spectrum and laboratory data of these coagulopathies.

METHODS: This was a descriptive study conducted from September 2003 to December 2004 on subjects from Aga Khan University Hospital, Husaini Blood Bank and Fatimid Blood Transfusion Centre. All the subjects with bleeding tendency without any acquired causes of bleeding were selected for further investigation, and were asked relevant questions as present in the questionnaire. Screening tests including platelet count, PT, APTT and bleeding time were performed on all patients and subsequently, …

A Case Of Histoplasmosis Mimicking Tuberculosis, Asim Qureshi

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Drug resistance to Tuberculosis is an emerging problem but proper exhaustive workup needs to be done before confirming the diagnosis. The case of a 5 year old male child who presented with low grade fever and lymphadenopathy and was being treated with anti TB drugs with no satisfactory response is presented. A detail workup including a biopsy gave the diagnosis of histoplasmosis.

Time Trends In The Incidence Of Cancer Cervix In Karachi South, 1995-2002, Yasmin Bhurgri, Shahid Pervez, Naila Kayani, Muneeza Afif, Imran Tahir, Kauser Nazir, Ahmed Usman, Naveen Faridi, Hadi Bhurgri, Jawaid Malik, Imtiaz Bashir, Asif Bhurgri, Rashida Ahmed, Sheema H Hasan, Mohammad Khurshid, S. M. H. Zaidi

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Introduction:The objective of the study was to determine the trends of cancer cervix in Karachi South during an eight (1995-2002) year period. Methododology: Cancer cervix cases recorded at Karachi Cancer Registry during 1st January 1995 to 31st December 2002 were analyzed. Trends were studied by analyzing the age standardized incidence rates (ASR)s in 2 time periods, 1995-97 and 1998-2002.

Results:

Cancer cervix ranked sixth in the 1995-97 period the age standardized incidence rate (ASR) world and crude incidence rate (CIR) per 100,000 were 6.81 and 3.22. It reached the fifth ranking in the 1998-2002 period with an ASR and …

Emergence Of Carbapenem Resistant Gram Negative And Vancomycin Resistant Gram Positive Organisms In Bacteremic Isolates Of Febrile Neutropenic Patients: A Descriptive Study., Seema Irfan, Faiza Idrees, Vikram Mehraj, Faizah Habib, Salman Adil, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background:This study was conducted to evaluate drug resistance amongst bacteremic isolates of febrile neutropenic Patients with particular emphasis on emergence of carbapenem resistant Gram negative bacteria and vancomycin resistant Enterococcus species.

Methods:

A descriptive study was performed by reviewing the blood culture reports from febrile neutropenic Patients during the two study periods i.e., 1999-00 and 2001-06. Blood cultures were performed using BACTEC 9240 automated system. Isolates were identified and antibiotic sensitivities were done using standard microbiological procedures.

Results:

Seven twenty six febrile neutropenic Patients were admitted during the study period. A total of 5840 blood cultures were received, off …

Rhinosporidiosis Presenting As An Urethral Polyp, Najamul Sahar Azad, Zubairali Ahmad, Naila Kayani

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Rhinosporidiosis is an inflammatory disease caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi, a protoctistan mesomycetozoa, member of a group of novel aquatic parasites, characterized by hyperplastic polypoid lesions of the nasal cavity and rarely other mucous membranes. We report an unusual presentation of rhinosporidiosis as an urethral polyp, which is only the second case of rhinosporidiosis reported from Pakistan.

Clear Cell Papillary Cystadenoma Of Epididymis, A Mimic Of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma, Nausheen Yaqoob, Aamir Ahsan, Zubair Ahmad, Ambreen Nasir Khan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

We discuss a case of 25 year old male who was evaluated for primary infertility following marriage. He had no previous history of urogenital complaints or abnormalities. In fact, his past medical history was unremarkable. On examination epididymal masses were found. Semen analysis showed azoospermia. Right epididymal mass was surgically excised. Histopathology showed an epididymal neoplasm composed of simple and complex papillary processes lining and filling the ducts. The tumor cells were clear and positive for cytoplasmic glycogen. Immunohistochemistry was also supportive. Diagnosis of clear cell papillary cystedenoma was made based on histopathological and immunohistochemical features.

Dubin-Johnson Syndrome, Aziz-Un Nisa, Zubair Ahmad

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

A young man presented with recurrent episodes of mild jaundice. Apart from conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, other liver function tests were always normal. Clinical suspicion of Dubin-Johnson syndrome was raised. Liver biopsy showed diffuse deposition of coarse granular dark brown pigment in hepatocytes. Dubin-Johnson syndrome is a benign condition, which results from a hereditary defect in biliary secretion of bilirubin pigments, and manifests as recurrent jaundice with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. The defect is due to the absence of the canalicular protein MRP2 located on chromosomes 10q 24, which is responsible for the transport of biliary glucuronides and related organic anions into bile. No …

Diagnostic Tool For Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia Clinicopathologic Spectrum, Natasha Bahadur Ali, Bushra Moiz, Mohammad Usman Shaikh, Salman Adil, Bushra Rizvi, Yasmeen Rahman

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Objective: To platelet aggregometry and describe the clinical spectrum of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia diagnosed by platelet aggregometry.
Study design: A case-series.
Place and duration of study: This study was carried out at the clinical laboratories at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi from January 2003 to January 2006.
Patients and methods: All patients irrespective of age and gender presenting with bleeding symptoms and having normal platelet count were evaluated. Demographic details, relevant clinical history along with results of complete blood count, bleeding time and platelet aggregation studies were retrieved through computerized data base and evaluated for the diagnosis of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. …

Metachronous Primary Cancers Of Colon And Stomac, Zubair Ahmad, Ayesha Memon, Khurram Minhas

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Synchronous or metachronous occurrence of esophageal, gastric and colonic cancers is a very rare occurrence, although there are several case reports in literature. A case of a 41 years old man with metachronous cancers of colon and stomach is reported.

Knowledge, Attitudes And Practices Of Health Care Workers Regarding Needle Stick Injuries At A Tertiary Care Hospital In Pakistan, Afia Zafar, Naveen Aslam, Nosheen Nasir, Riffat Meraj, Vikram Mehraj

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of HCWs regarding needle stick injuries at the Aga Khan University Hospital.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on medical personnel. A structured pre-tested questionnaire was administered during June-July 2003. The data was analysed by SPSS 13.0. Percentages of the categorical variables were computed and compared by Chi square test at a 5% level of significance. Odds ratios and their 95% CIs were also computed.

RESULTS: Of 80 participants, 29 were doctors and 51 were registered nurses. About 45% reported having a needle stick injury in the past. Frequency of injury was …