Hepatitis B awareness and vaccine status among allied health science students

Background: Hepatitis B is endemic throughout the world and occupational exposure to HBV is very common among health care professionals. The main objective of the study was to assess the knowledge about HBV virus, modes of transmission and vaccination status.Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study which was carried out among 60 Allied Health Students in a tertiary care teaching hospital. The valediction of the questionnaire was done by a pilot study before starting the survey.Results: The respond rate was 96% and knowledge on causative agent was 93%, the organ affected 81.7% and modes of transmission were 70%. Awareness about vaccination and its importance were also assessed. The participants completed their three doses of vaccination were 12%, two doses 70% and not yet started was 18%. Awareness about other health care related infections through needle stick injuries and the risk percentage of contracting infection in the order of HIV, HBV and HCV was answered correctly by 81% of the participants.Conclusions: This study may help to impart the knowledge and awareness about HBV among the student population who lack knowledge regarding mode of transmission and fatal consequence. This study may further help the student population to inculcate health precautions during their clinical exposure in the near future

Prevalence of crystalluria and its association with Escherichia coli urinary tract infections

Background: Some studies highlighted that there was increase in the incidence of urinary tract problems related to frequent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and crystalluria. This induces us to understand the prevalence of crystals in urine samples and its association with bacterial urinary tract infections. For determining the different types of urinary crystals, the role of microscopic examination for identification are routine and identical.Methods: The main objective of this study is to find out the predominant types of crystals in urine, age and sex incidence value, urine pH correlated with crystals and bacteriological examination of urine samples associated with UTIs.   Results: Among 88 urine samples included, 49 (55.6%) were males and 39 (44.3%) were females of different age groups. By urine sediment analysis, among the normal crystals, calcium oxalate and amorphous urates were found predominant followed by cholesterol found among abnormal crystals. The results highlighted the presence of different types of crystals in the urine samples and strongly supported the pH ranges. The variations in the pH range from 3 to 7. The correlation of the results of crystal formation with bacterial culture showed predominance of Escherichia coli (19.3%) and further it gets proved with the theory and reference interpretation.Conclusion: By this study, the authors have a mystery whether the crystal formation leads to the bacterial infection or the infection leads to crystal formation. In the case of positive urine crystal analysis, the clinicians may consider the microbiological investigations to find out the real picture.  

COVID-19: Group testing and digital technology “Aarogya Setu” - the need of the hour

The importance of group testing, efficient utilization of the diagnostic tests and its applications are highlighted. Though it has advantages, the challenges and constraints and the need for the policy from the concerned authorities to implement group testing in a reliable manner with competent persons were brought out. Thus, with group testing and the use of digital technology “Aarogya Setu” in India, we are confident that we will be able to diagnose cases and implement surveillance activities successfully. Popularization of “Aarogya Setu” by all categories of healthcare workers, teachers, women self help groups and other users of android mobile phones in the interest of the Nation and community at large, towards disease containment were cited. However, the ethical aspects of deployment of such kind of approach as part of a multidimensional public health response, and its usefulness in infectious disease outbreaks have to be monitored

Moisturisers from birth in at-risk infants of atopic dermatitis – a pragmatic randomised controlled trial

10.1111/ajd.13703Australasian Journal of Dermatology62