Prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B and C viruses among haemodialysis patients in Gaza strip, Palestine

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and its associated risk factors among haemodialysis (HD) patients in Gaza strip was investigated using serological and molecular techniques.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall prevalence of HBV among the four HD centers was 8.1%. The main risk factors were HD center (p = 0.05), history of blood transfusion (p < 0.01), and treatment abroad (p = 0.01). The overall prevalence of HCV among the four HD centers was 22%. The main risk factors were HD center (p < 0.01), time duration on HD (p < 0.01), history of blood transfusion (p < 0.01), treatment abroad (p < 0.01), and history of blood transfusion abroad (p < 0.01). Serum aminotransferases levels decreased in HD patients compared with normal population but still there was a direct association between the activity of liver enzymes and both HBV (p < 0.01) and HCV (p < 0.01) infection.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The much higher prevalence of Hepatitis viruses among HD patients compared to the normal population of Gaza strip indicates a causative relation between HD and hepatitis viruses transmission. Therefore extremely careful observation of preventive infection control measures is essential to limit Hepatitis viruses' transmission in HD centers.</p

Annals of Alquds Medicine Pseudomonas aeruginosa distribution in clinical sample and their antibiogram from Al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza, PNA

Abstract Objective: To assess antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from four types of clinical specimen at Al-Shifa hospital, and to compare susceptibilities of those isolates according to their source. Method: Clinical specimens from Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza were analyzed between January and December 2002. Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated and identified by conventional methods. The antibiotic resistance rates were measured by modified Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Data were analyzed statistically using SPSS (version 11). Results: The number of isolated P. aeruginosa was 541, obtained from 4 types of clinical specimens. Pus was the major source of P. aeruginosa isolates (64%), followed by urine (24%), sputum (7.0%) and Blood (5.0%). However, considering the number of specimens cultured, sputum showed the highest Pseudomonas isolation rate (49%), followed by Pus (23%), urine (8.0%) and Blood (6.0%). The highest percentage rates of resistance were found against amoxicillin (99% of all isolates), cephalexin (98.5%), cefaclor (97.4%), doxycycline (96.2%), trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole (94.7%) and nalidixic acid (93.5 %). Ciprofloxacin was the most effective of all the tested antimicrobials, followed by Gentamicin and Amikacin. Significant statistical (P 0.05) difference in isolated strain susceptibility was detected among some of the antimicrobials depending on the specimen source. Conclusion: This study showed that antimicrobial resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was high and alarming. Significant difference in the resistance pattern of isolates from different specimen type can be useful in clearing the picture of resistance problem and suggests that due care must be taken in hospital settings to adequately diagnose pseudomonal infections and prescribe the antibiotic treatment most effective in preventing the increase in multidrug resistant organisms