Cerrahi ortopedi hastalarının antibiyotik kullanımı ve antibiyotik direnç algısı

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate orthopedic patients' knowledge of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Material and Method: Patients admitted to the hospital for orthopedic surgery were given a questionnaire containing a total of 26 questions, 7 multiple choices, nine true and false questions and ten likert scale questions adapted from a survey which has been published by World Health Organization and translated to Albanian to assess their knowledge and attitude toward antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Result and Discussion: Sixty-two percent of the patients misunderstood the definition of antibiotic resistance and answered yes to the question "Antibiotic resistance occurs when your body becomes resistant to antibiotics and the antibiotic is no longer effective." 62.4% of the patient strongly agreed that ‘antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest problems facing the world”. Although participants are aware of antibiotic resistance and the potential threats it may pose, their knowledge of the causes of antibiotic resistance and how to prevent it is limited. In conclusion, attempts need to be made to raise antibiotic resistance awareness and knowledge among the Kosovo population.Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı ortopedi hastalarının antibiyotikler ve antibiyotik direnci üzerine bilgisini değerlendirmektir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Ortopedi ameliyatı için hastaneye yatırılan hastaların antibiyotikler ve antibiyotik direnci üzerine bilgilerini ve tutumlarını değerlendirmek amacı ile Dünya Sağlık Örgütü tarafından uygulanmış bir anketten uyarlama Arnavutça’ya çevrilen 7 adet çoktan seçmeli, 9 adet doğru yanlış ve 10 adet likert ölçeği sorusu olmak üzere toplamda 26 sorudan oluşan uyarlama anket yöneltildi. Sonuç ve Tartışma: Hastaların yüzde 62’si antibiyotik direncinin tanımını yanlış anlamış ve "Antibiyotik direnci, vücudunuz antibiyotiklere dirençli hale geldiğinde ve artık işe yaramadığında ortaya çıkar." sorusuna evet cevabını vermiştir. Hastaların yüzde 62.4’ü "Antibiyotik direnci dünyanın karşı karşıya olduğu en büyük sorunlardan biridir." ifadesine kesinlikle katıldıklarını belirtmiştir. Katılımcılar antibiyotik direncinin ve sebep olması muhtemel tehlikelerin farkında olmalarına ragmen, antibiyotik direncinin sebeplerine ve antibiyotik direncinin nasıl önleneceğine dair bilgileri kısıtlıdır. Sonuç olarak, Kosova’da antibiyotik direncine dair bilinç ve farkındalığı arttırmaya yönelik çalışmalar yapılması gerekmektedir

Validation of the Arabic Version of Medication Regimen Complexity Index Among Older Patients - Validation of the “MRCI-Arabic”

The medication regimen complexity index is widely used in clinical practice and many studies, to assess the complexity of medication regimens. The goal of this study is to validate the medication regimen complexity index-Arabic (MRCI-Arabic) version among older patients. Methods: This methodologic study was conducted in older patients (≥ 65 years old) who were native Arabic speakers at a community pharmacy located in Istanbul, Turkey. After the translation and cultural adaptation process finished, medication regimens of 30 patients were evaluated for test-retest reliability three weeks apart by the rater who was a native Arabic speaker. The inter-rater correlation was calculated in study population (n =100). The link between the number of medications and the score of medication regimen complexity was used to assess convergent validity. The difference in the score of pharmaceutical regimen complexity in stratified age groups was used to examine discriminant validity. Results: The inter-rater and test-retest reliability of the MRCI-Arabic total scale and its subsection were extremely high (Spearman’s rho ranged from 0.996 to 1; p <0.001). There was a strong and positive correlation between the total MRCI-Arabic score and the number of medications (r = 0.830; p < 0.001), the number of chronic diseases (r = 0.641; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The Arabic validation of the MRCI is a validated tool that can be used by native Arabic-speaking healthcare professionals to determine the complexity of their patients’ medication regimens

A multi-center retrospective analysis of healthcare workers after COVID-19: Epidemiological and clinical features

Objective: Concerns regarding the high-level risk of infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) increased after COVID19 was declared as a pandemic in March 2020. Inadequate infection control owing to a shortage of personal protective equipment or an inconvenient usage of infection control measures may play a significant role in transmission to/among healthcare personnel. The study aimed to determine the characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients who are healthcare workers along with possible transmission routes of COVID-19 in four different healthcare facilities in Istanbul. Methods: All hospital records were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic and clinical characteristics of HCWs were documented, and all infected HCWs were subjected to a phone-based mini-questionnaire and three-dimensional test (TDT). All statistical analyses were done using statistical packages SPSS Demo Ver 22 (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL, USA).Results: Clinical features of COVID-19 were similar to the general public's characteristics. The most frequent symptoms were cough, fever, and headache. HCWs with the O blood group tend to have asymptomatic COVID-19 infection. Hospital workers other than medical professionals have a lack of convenience of infection control measures. The median duration of PCR negativity was 9 days. HCWs who had a sore throat at the beginning of COVID-19 have a longer PCR-positive duration.Conclusion: Understanding the clinical features or characteristics of asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers may aid in the implementation of a feasible screening program for early detection. It is strongly advised that proper infection control precautions, education, and auditing of nonclinical staff be implemented. As a result, transmission among healthcare workers can be avoided

Diyabetik hastaların eğitim ihtiyaçlarının değerlendirilmesi

Objective: Our study aimed to assess the role of pre-graduate pharmacy students’ participation in a diabetic education program on improving diabetic self-care. Material and Method: This study included both a cross-sectional and a longitudinal follow-up. Altinbas University fifth-year pharmacy students gathered relevant information from diabetic patients that visited community pharmacies, under the supervision of their instructor pharmacist. The participants filled out the diabetic self-care scale on their first visit before they were given the education. Patients refilled the same self-care questionnaire after three months. Statistical package for the social science (SPSS) 26 was used for all statistical analysis. Result and Discussion: The study comprised 86 diabetic patients. The second questionnaire results showed significant improvement in all patients. The total diabetic self-care scale scores were improved remarkably after the training session. HbA1c and BMI values decreased significantly. An educational program can improve diabetic self-care and diabetic outcomes. Active participation of final year pharmacy students in patient care can also improve pharmacists' participation and contribution to patient care delivery.Amaç: Çalışmamız, son sınıf eczacılık öğrencilerinin diyabetik bir eğitim programına katılımlarının diyabetik öz bakımın iyileştirilmesindeki rolünü değerlendirmeyi amaçlamıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu çalışma hem kesitsel hem de boylamsal bir takip içermektedir. Altınbaş Üniversitesi eczacılık beşinci sınıf öğrencileri, serbest eczaneleri ziyaret eden diyabet hastalarının gerekli bilgilerini sorumlu eczacılarının gözetiminde topladı. Katılımcılar diyabetik öz bakım ölçeğini doldurduktan sonra kendilerine eğitim verildi. Hastalar aynı öz bakım anketini üç ay sonra tekrar doldurdu. Tüm istatistiksel analizler için sosyal bilimler için istatistiksel paket (SPSS) 26 kullanıldı. Sonuç ve Tartışma: Çalışmaya 86 diyabetik hasta dahil edildi. İkinci anket sonuçları tüm hastalarda anlamlı iyileşme gösterdi. Toplam diyabetik öz bakım ölçeği puanları, eğitim seansından sonra önemli ölçüde iyileşti. HbA1c ve BMI değerlerinde anlamlı azalma oldu. Bir eğitim programı diyabetik öz bakımı ve diyabetik sonuçları iyileştirebilir. Eczacılık son sınıf öğrencilerinin hasta bakımına aktif katılımı, eczacıların hasta bakımı sunumuna katılımını ve katkısını da artırabilir

The effect of antimicrobial policy implementation on carbapenem resistance: A university hospital experience

Objective: The resistance of Gram-negative bacteria to antibiotics is a global issue that leads to increased mortality and treatment costs. The aim of this study is to see how a newly formed carbapenem control team affected the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative rods and antibiotic consumption expenses in 2017 compared to the year before.Methods: The rate of carbapenem antibiotic usage in Intensive Care Units and Bone Marrow Transplantation services, as well as the findings of culture materials obtained from various body parts of the same patients, between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2017 were assessed.Results: While there was an ordinary restriction on carbapenem consumption in 2016, carbapenem consumption has been more restricted in 2017. The carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria patterns of culture materials are examined and compared with Defined Daily Dose data of carbapenems. After the restriction, a significant decrease in the consumption of carbapenems was detected. The decline in carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria and decreasing antibiotic consumption were found to have a moderately positive correlation (r=0.641, p=0.02). A 60.9% decrease was observed in carbapenem costs after carbapenem restriction, on the other hand, an increase in other unrestricted antibiotics was apparent.Conclusion: Antimicrobial restriction policies can help minimize the rate of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative rods, which is a serious problem in healthcare. We demonstrated that a decrease in carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative rods isolation rates can lead to a decrease in healthcare-associated infections. Although there is no decrease in the direct antibiotics cost, a drop in carbapenem-resistant may lower the expenses of drastic consequences of infections with carbapenem-resistant and its cost. we can conclude that the Antibiotic Control Policy should be modified based on this new information

Investigation of ceftazidime-avibactam susceptibility in clinical isolates of gram-negative bacteria

Background/aim: Our study investigated the susceptibility rate of ceftazidime-avibactam and the risk factors associated with its resistance by analyzing gram-negative bacteria isolated from various patient samples. Materials and methods: Between March and November 2020, 1119 gram-negative bacteria strains were isolated from patient samples in Acıbadem Healthcare Group hospitals; ceftazidime-avibactam susceptibility results were evaluated using a 10/4µg (Oxoid, UK) disc and evaluated according to Eucast 2020 recommendations. Patient and isolate characteristics that could be risk factors were retrospectively investigated and statistically analyzed using SPSS 25.0. Results: Male patients made up 52% (n = 581) of the study’s total patient population, and they averaged 55.5 ± 24.9 years old. Of 1119 gram-negative strains culture and antibiogram, 1023 (91.4%) were sensitive to ceftazidime-avibactam. An increased risk of resistance was observed with female gender (OR = 2.29; CI 95% [1.45–3.61]; p < 0.05), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (OR = 1.67, CI 95% [1.03–2.7]; p < 0.05), the presence of multidrug-resistance (MDR) (OR = 4.07, CI 95% [2.47–6.7]; p < 0.05) pandrug-resistance (PDR) (OR = 12, (CI) 95% [9.9–14.7] ]; p < 0.05) and admission to intensive care unit (ICU) (OR = 1.89, CI 95% [1.22–2.93]; p < 0.05). Conclusion: The resistance rate of ceftazidime-avibactam was found to be 8.6%, and it was thought that resistant strains produced metallo-ß-lactamase (MBL) type carbapenemase. Risk factors were female gender, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MDR, PDR, and admission to ICU. Therefore, studying the ceftazidime-avibactam susceptibility test together with gram-negative bacteria identification, especially in groups at risk for resistance, is one of the important factors that can positively affect the success of treatment

COVID-19 Lockdown Effects on Sleep, Immune Fitness, Mood, Quality of Life, and Academic Functioning: Survey Data from Turkish University Students

Previous studies from the Netherlands, Germany, and Argentina revealed that the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and associated lockdown periods had a significant negative impact on the wellbeing and quality of life of students. The negative impact of lockdown periods on health correlates such as immune fitness, alcohol consumption, and mood were reflected in their academic functioning. As both the duration and intensity of lockdown measures differed between countries, it is important to replicate these findings in different countries and cultures. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on immune fitness, mood, academic functioning, sleep, smoking, alcohol consumption, healthy diet, and quality of life among Turkish students. Turkish students in the age range of 18 to 30 years old were invited to complete an online survey. Data were collected from n = 307 participants and included retrospective assessments for six time periods: (1) BP (before the COVID-19 pandemic, 1 January 2020–10 March 2020), (2) NL1 (the first no lockdown period, 11 March 2020–28 April 2021), (3) the lockdown period (29 April 2021–17 May 2021), (4) NL2 (the second no lockdown period, 18 May 2021–31 December 2021), (5) NL3 (the third no lockdown period, 1 January 2022–December 2022), and (6) for the past month. In this data descriptor article, the content of the survey and the dataset are described. Dataset: The dataset is submitted as a Supplementary File

Investigation of the protective effect of gel incorporating Eugenia jambolana leaf extract on 5‑fluorouracil‑induced oral mucositis: an animal study

Purpose The study aimed to evaluate the possible preventive effect of two concentrations (3 and 5% w/w) of Eugenia jambolana (EJ) extract against 5-FU-induced mucositis. Method Sixteen adult rats were separated into four groups: two control and two preventive groups. Animals in Groups 1, 2, and 3 were injected intraperitoneally with 60 mg/kg/day of 5-FU on Day 1 followed by 150 mg/kg/day on Day 5. The rats in Group 4 (negative control) were given physiological saline at the same times and doses. Furthermore, on the fifth day of the study, the cheek and sublingual mucosa were irritated by external superficial scratches using the tip of an 18-G needle, followed by the application 15 μL of 20% acetic acid, after which 3 and 5% EJ w/w gels were applied topically for animals in Groups 2 and 3, respectively. Results The weight and the mucositis scores were recorded. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory markers and biochemical tests were analyzed. Significant differences were found between the study groups in weight loss, clinical mucositis scores, mortality rates, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory parameters. Conclusion The preventive effect of 3% gel was significant, with no mortality rate, making it an option for preventive strategies

A meta-analysis assessing the prevalence of drug-drug interactions among hospitalized patients

PurposeDrug-drug interactions (DDIs), particularly in hospitalized patients can result in adverse drug events and unfavorable health consequences. The aim of this meta-analysis is to provide up-to-date evidence on the prevalence of clinically evident adverse drug events due to DDIs in hospitalized patients.MethodsData from Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane and Web of Science were extracted using these keywords (Drug interaction/drug-drug interactions, Hospital/ hospitals, Adverse drug event, Hospitalized patients, inpatient, Department, Hospital stay, Harm, Mortality, death). The studies that include Observational studies on hospitalized patients, reporting potential DDIs using an electronic database, and reporting the clinically observed adverse drug interactions (ADI) through symptoms, signs or Laboratory tests are included. Using Open meta-Software (version 12.11.14), the incidence of clinically evident DDIs among hospitalized patients was determined and shown in a forest plot.ResultsOnly 15 of the 8261 articles found through a literature search met the inclusion criteria and reported the desired outcome. The pooled prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions is 64.9% (CI 95% 0.618-0.736). While clinically evident DDIs have a pooled frequency of 17.17% (CI 95% 0.133-0.256).ConclusionThe issue of DDIs remains a significant concern in hospitalized patients, with a notable rise in their prevalence. This meta-analysis encompassed a greater quantity of studies and demonstrated a heightened proportion of drug-drug interaction prevalence in comparison to the percentages reported in the previously published meta-analysis