Antibiotic Prescribing Practices in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Background Antibiotics are among the most frequently prescribed medications in hospitals, yet a significant portion of their use is inappropriate, contributing to the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In Pakistan, AMR has reached alarming levels with the rise of multi- and extensively drug-resistant bacteria. This study evaluates antibiotic prescribing practices and the use of culture sensitivity (CS) testing to assess the appropriateness of antibiotic therapy.

Spontaneous Closure of Bile Leak in Abdominal Drain after Cholecystectomy: A Systematic Review.

Bile leakage in abdominal drain after cholecystectomy is reported to close spontaneously without any intervention. The aim of this systematic review was to find out the amount and source of bile leaks that can be closed spontaneously and various factors associated with this closure. A systematic search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane under preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was performed.

Eysenck's Personality Questionnaire Scores of Heroin Addicts in Pakistan.

Objective The main objective of the study was to find Eysenck's Personality Questionnaire scores of heroin addicts in Pakistan and to compare the EPQ scores with demographic variables such as age, gender, and duration of addiction.  Methodology of the study This cross-sectional study was conducted in Islamabad, Pakistan. Data was collected from 300 participants.

Are social determinants associated with depression among married women of reproductive age? A mixed methods study from urban slums of Islamabad, Pakistan.

Depression among married women of reproductive age is on the rise in Pakistan, owing to post-COVID-19 phase, super-inflation, increasing poverty, deteriorating law and order situation and perpetuating the uncertain political situation in the country. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with depression among married women of reproductive age in Pakistan, using a mixed methods approach. The quantitative phase utilized the Urdu version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess depression among 340 married women.

Comparison Of Intraoperative Wound Irrigation With Aqueous Povidone-Iodine Solution To Normal Saline In Preventing Surgical Site Infections.

Background: A surgical site infection (SSI) is a wound infection caused by pathogens, particularly bacteria, that occurs within 30 days of the surgery. Various methods have been employed to minimise infection rates of infection one of which is intra-operative wound irrigation. This study aims to compare the frequency of surgical site infections after wound irrigation of contaminated and dirty wounds with normal saline and aqueous povidone-iodine solutions.

Prescription practices of physicians, quality of care, and patients' safety: A mixed methods comprehensive study.

Objectives: Amidst inconsistent prescribing patterns and potentially harmful medication errors in the field of medical practice, this study endeavored to explore the prescription practices of physicians in Rawalpindi metropolitan city in Pakistan.

Methods: A mixed method study was conducted based on the analysis of 1232 prescriptions gathered from 16 pharmacies, along with in-depth interviews with 13 practicing physicians. The prescriptions were assessed for legibility, polypharmacy, patient details, history, diagnosis, and other relevant information.

RIPASA versus Alvarado score in the assessment of acute appendicitis: A prospective study.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Appendicitis (RIPASA) and Alvarado scoring to accurately identify acute appendicitis.

Material And Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study was carried out in the department of surgery. Patients were enrolled and scored using RIPASA and Alvarado scoring systems.

Pleomorphic adenomia of lower lip: A case report.

Pleomorphic adenoma is a benign tumor of the salivary glands. It commonly occurs in the parotid gland, palate, upper lip and cheek. The authors present a rare case of a pleomorphic adenoma of the lower lip in a 30 years old female admitted on 20 of July, 2022 at Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital, Islamabad with a complaint of painless, slightly itchy swelling on the lower lip for the last four months.

Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Trends in Pakistan: Activity Survey from Pakistan Bone Marrow Transplant Group.

Pakistan is the fifth most populous country with a population of 225 million and has health expenditure accounting for only 2.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Accordingly, there are a limited number of haematology-oncology and transplant centers in the country.

A very rare case of diphallia with anorectal malformation.

Introduction And Importance: Diphallia is extremely rare urological anomaly with reported incidence of 1 in 5-6 million live births. It can present as complete or incomplete diphallia. In most of the cases it is associated with complex urological, gastrointestinal or anorectal malformations.

Social determinants of pacemaker reuse among patients and family members in Pakistan.

Objectives: This survey aimed to quantify the opinions of CIED reuse among patients and family members in Pakistan and to identify the social determinants which may predict these views.

Methods: A questionnaire formulating attitudes toward PPM reuse was administered to patients and family members at cardiology institutes in Pakistan from 1 July 2022 to 30 September 2022. The eligibility criteria (age > 18 years; inline for PPM placement) were taken into account and incomplete responses were excluded from the final analysis.

Echocardiography- versus intracardiac electrocardiogram-based optimization of cardiac resynchronization therapy: A systematic review.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the performance of echocardiography-based programming in comparison with the intracardiac electrocardiogram (IEGM)-based method for the optimization of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Methods: A literature review was conducted using digital databases to systematically identify the studies reporting CRT optimization through echocardiography compared with IEGM. Detailed patient-level study characteristics including the type of study, sample size, therapy, the New York Heart Classification (NYHA) status, lead placement, and other parameters were abstracted.

Procedural complications associated with percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy: A systematic review.

Background: As Percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy (PMBV) remains the keystone in treating mitral stenosis, we conducted this review to elucidate the cumulative frequency and predictors of complications following PMBV and their occurrence in various patient populations.

Areas Covered: We searched digital databases for relevant studies covering complications of PMBV and retrieved articles using the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) keywords.

Expert Opinion: A total of 37 articles (8 RCTs, 7 nonrandomized clinical trials, 22 observational studies) were selected for qualitative analysis.

Tricuspid regurgitation in His bundle pacing: A systematic review.

Objective: This systematic review aimed to explore an association of new TR and its quantification in patients undergoing His bundle pacing (HBP).

Methods: A literature review was conducted using Mesh terms (His bundle pacing, tricuspid regurgitation, tricuspid valve incompetence, etc.) in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library till October 2021.

SARS-CoV-2 Detection Using Optical Fiber Based Sensor Method.

The SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus disease, also known as the COVID-19 pandemic, has engendered the biggest challenge to human life for the last two years. With a rapid increase in the spread of the Omicron variant across the world, and to contain the spread of COVID-19 in general, it is crucial to rapidly identify this viral infection with minimal logistics. To achieve this, a novel plastic optical fiber (POF) U-shaped probe sensing method is presented for accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2, commonly known as the COVID-19 virus, which has the capability to detect new variants such as Omicron.

Do Weekly Surveillance Cultures Contribute to Antibiotic Stewardship and Correlate with Outcome of HSCT in Children? A Multicenter Real-World Experience of 5 Years from the Indian Subcontinent.

The utility of weekly rectal swab surveillance cultures (RSSCs) as a resource to identify gut colonization with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing organisms and guide empirical antibiotic therapy in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients continues to be a subject of interest. There is an urgent need to assess and justify modifications to empirical antibiotics based on regional epidemiology and patient groups. This study aimed to study the utility of weekly rectal swab surveillance cultures (RSSCs) to guide empirical antibiotic therapy and to examine the impact of gut colonization on transplantation outcomes.

Management of a giant carbuncle on the posterior trunk with excision and grafting.

Carbuncle is a painful subcutaneous mass of interconnected infected hair follicles with multiple discharging sinuses. It has predisposition in conditions like diabetes, immune-compromised states, chronic skin diseases etc. The authors present a case of a 67 year old diabetic male admitted in July 2020 at Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital (ANTH) Islamabad, with a giant carbuncle on his back.

Management of early and late presenting tibial stress fracture with advanced osteoarthritis of the knee: A dilemma among arthroplasty surgeons in developing countries.

Background: Single-stage total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with long-stem is a viable option to treat proximal tibial stress fracture in advance knee osteoarthritis. However, in patients with old mal-united or non-united tibial fractures, treatment becomes complicated. Therefore, our aim in this study was to monitor clinical and radiological outcome in patients presenting early or late managed by single-stage long-stem TKA.

Efficacy of Tacrolimus Versus Clobetasol in the Treatment of Vitiligo.

Introduction Vitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disorder of the skin and mucous membranes which is characterized by circumscribed depigmented macules and patches. Vitiligo is a progressive disorder in which some or all of the melanocytes in the affected skin are selectively destroyed. Around 0.

Applications and impact of computer technologies in management of multimorbidity.

Objective: To highlight clinical scenarios and healthcare practitioners' difficulties where computer applications can help in multimorbidity management.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2017 to January 2019 in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan, and comprised local physicians/practitioners. Data was collected using a self-generated questionnaire which was distributed among the subjects.