Perception of understanding COVID-19 among doctors at Patan Hospital, Nepal

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and presents with fever, dry cough, fatigue, myalgia, and dyspnea. This study aims to is find out the understanding of COVID-19 among doctors at Patan Hospital. Method: A cross sectional was conducted among doctors at Patan Hospital, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Nepal. The questionnaire in Google form consisted, part1 perception on COVID-19 and part2 understanding using multiple choice questions corresponding to the one to fifteen questionnaire in part1. Ethnical approval was obtained. Result: Sixty-one doctors participated in the study, of which 65.5% were directly involved in management of COVID-19. Perception and understanding regarding transmission status in country was 65.6% and 63.95% respectively, about case definition 90.1% and 62.2%, about when to do diagnostic tests 75.4% and 90.2%. Conclusion: There was difference in perception and understanding regarding COVID-19 among doctors, and areas to be reinforced were case definition, transmission classification, diagnostic tests. Keyword: COVID-19, doctors, perception, understandin

A Study on Analysis of the Sputum Gram Staining and Culture in Patients with Lower Respiratory Tract Infections Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Microscopical examination of expectorated sputum samples is the most commonly followed method in the Microbiological laboratory for diagnosis of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). Sputum sample is usually contaminated with normal resident floral organisms of the oropharynx. For the diagnosis and management of LRTIs, collection of sputum sample, sputum microscopy and culture is very important. The present study was conducted to analyse the importance of the microscopical examination of Gram stained sputum smears and the sputum culture in patients with LRTIs.Materials & Methods: The place of the study was in the department of Microbiology in a tertiary care hospital. The study period was for one year from Jan 2015 to Dec 2015. Gram staining and culture were done for all the 130 sputum samples. Gram stained sputum smears were observed under microscope for presence of organisms, pus cells and epithelial cells. Quality of expectorated sputum samples were assessed by using Bartlett’s grading system. By using standard protocols bacterial isolates were identified. Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar was performed for antibiotic susceptibility testing.Results and conclusion: Out of 130 sputum samples, 72 (55.4%) samples were acceptable based on Bartlett’s screening system and 58(44.6%) samples were in the not acceptable category. Among acceptable category, 64(78.05%) samples were showed culture positivity. Among non-acceptable category, 18(21.95%) samples were showed culture positivity. Klebsiella pnemoniae- 31.71% was the commonest isolated organism followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa-14.63% and Staphylococcus aureus - 13.41%.In this study authors recommended to receive good quality of sputum and do initial sputum screening for diagnosing clinically relevant LRTIs

A Study of Microbial Load on the Hands of Nursing Staff in Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Infections due to hospital-acquired microbes is an evolving problem worldwide. Prevalence as high as 19%, of these infections in developing countries poses a challenge to health-care providers. A major source of horizontal transmission of the nosocomial infections are thought to be bacterial contamination of palm of hand of health care providers such as doctors and nurses. Hand hygiene is the single most cost effective preventive measure against hospital acquired infections and education is an important tool to ensure its implementation. Aim: The present study was undertaken, to demonstrate the presence of resident microbial flora on the hands of nursing staff after duty hours working at various critical areas in a tertiary care hospital with their antibiogram. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was carried out after ethical clearance from June to August 2020 on 100 nursing staff of either sex working in critical areas of tertiary care hospital after due informed consent from the nurses. A sterile swab moistened with sterile normal saline was used to collect the swabs from dominant (working) hands after working hours. The collected swabs were processed for isolation, identification, and antibiotic sensitivity of organisms. Results: Out of 100 swabs collected from the dominant hands of nurses working in critical areas, 83 showed the growth. All the samples cultured shows growth of more than two organisms. The major Gram-positive pathogenic organisms grown were Coagulase negative Staphylococcus spp. Forty (48.19%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus 30 (36.14%) whereas among Gram-negative Klebsiella spp. five (6.025%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa four (4.81%) predominated. Conclusions: In the present study, the level of contamination of nursing staff was found to be high. Resident flora consisting of multi drug resistant pathogenic organisms can be greatly reduced by an increase in hand-hygiene awareness coupled with organizational interventions. We recommend to closely monitoring hand hygiene practices for effective intervention strategies