MOBILE PHONES OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS: A POTENTIAL THREAT TO INFECTION CONTROL IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Background: Nosocomial infections are a major problem in both developed and developing countries. Among various reasons for the increase in the rate of nosocomial infections, the role of mobile phones used by Health Care Professionals (HCPs), is analyzed in this study. Aims and Objectives: To screen the surfaces of mobile phones of HCPs for pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria and to compare it with the control group. To study the significance of mobile phones of HCPs acting as vehicles for transmitting nosocomial infections. Materials and Methods: 200 HCPs (Doctors, nurses, medical students, and technicians) 50 other than HCPs mobile phone surfaces are swabbed with sterile swabs soaked in sterile saline and inoculated onto Blood agar and Mac Conkey agar and incubated for 48 hours. The organisms are identified by the colony morphology and characteristic biochemical reactions. Control group (50) comprised of general public and arts and science students. A questionnaire related to their habit of using the cell phones was also filled up by both the test group and the control group. Results: The pathogenic bacteria isolated from study group are Staphylococcus aureus, which is predominant, followed by E. coli, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa andProteus mirabilis. The non- pathogenic bacteria isolated are Micrococci, Coagulase Negative Staphylococci, Diphtheroids, Neisseria catarrahlis, Aerobic spore bearers, and Candida albicans. The prevalence of Pathogenic bacteria and Non Pathogenic bacteria are higher in HCPs samples when compared with the control group. KEY WORDS: Nosocomial infections; Mobile phones; Health care professionals

MOBILE PHONES OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS: A POTENTIAL THREAT TO INFECTION CONTROL IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Background: Nosocomial infections are a major problem in both developed and developing countries. Among various reasons for the increase in the rate of nosocomial infections, the role of mobile phones used by Health Care Professionals (HCPs), is analyzed in this study. Aims and Objectives: To screen the surfaces of mobile phones of HCPs for pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria and to compare it with the control group. To study the significance of mobile phones of HCPs acting as vehicles for transmitting nosocomial infections. Materials and Methods: 200 HCPs (Doctors, nurses, medical students, and technicians) 50 other than HCPs mobile phone surfaces are swabbed with sterile swabs soaked in sterile saline and inoculated onto Blood agar and Mac Conkey agar and incubated for 48 hours. The organisms are identified by the colony morphology and characteristic biochemical reactions. Control group (50) comprised of general public and arts and science students. A questionnaire related to their habit of using the cell phones was also filled up by both the test group and the control group. Results: The pathogenic bacteria isolated from study group are Staphylococcus aureus, which is predominant, followed by E. coli, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa andProteus mirabilis. The non- pathogenic bacteria isolated are Micrococci, Coagulase Negative Staphylococci, Diphtheroids, Neisseria catarrahlis, Aerobic spore bearers, and Candida albicans. The prevalence of Pathogenic bacteria and Non Pathogenic bacteria are higher in HCPs samples when compared with the control group. KEY WORDS: Nosocomial infections; Mobile phones; Health care professionals

Breaking the HxNy outbreak

The latest emergence of influenza A (H1N1) virus outbreak demonstrated how swiftly a new strain of flu can evolve and spread around the globe. The A/H1N1 flu has been spreading at unprecedented speed, and further spread within the countries being affected and to other adjacent or far way countries is considered inevitable due to the rapid emigration of infected individuals across the world. In this bioinformation, we discuss the mechanism of evolution of a new HxNy strain and the essential criteria for potentially breaking the outbreak of these extremely harmful and rapidly evolving viral strains in the near future by taking the recent H1N1 pandemic as a classical paradigm

Synthesis, characterization and antioxidant activities of novel N-substituted pyrazoline derivatives bearing 3-benzo[b]thiophene and 5-styryl substituents

The new series of N-substituted pyrazoline derivatives bearing benzo[b]thiophene and styryl with trifluoromethyl substitution at para- and meta- positions were synthesized. The structures of newly synthesized compounds were characterized by UV, IR, NMR, Mass and single crystal XRD (SCXRD) and had been screened for antioxidant activity. The in vitro antioxidant activities screening revealed that hydroxyl radical scavenging (HRS) activities of compounds 3c, 3f, 4a, 4e, 4f, 5c, 5d 5e and 5g are stronger than the other compounds and the compound 5g shows much better antioxidant activity

Molecular docking studies on potent adsorbed receptor of Thrh protein: A new target for biodegradation of indigo dye

Vat dyes are aromatic compounds widely used for denim textile industries, this result in a great wastewater problem from this industry due to recalcitrant nature of these dyes. The active protein (ThrH) was purified from Pseudomonas aeruginosa by DEAE-Sepharose A-50 column chromatography and this 3D crystal structure was reported recently. The present study aimed to demonstrate the binding energy between 3D crystal structures of indigo dye and ThrH. We have calculated the gliding score as well as gliding energy based on the hydrophobic interactions between targeted sites (amino acid and dye residue) and the main think is binding energy which was observed maximum level because of the presence of magnesium ions along with catalytic molecules located at the binding sites. The dye degraded mineralized compound was predicted by mass spectrum and infrared spectroscopy

Implant surgical guides: From the past to the present

Advent of osseointegration has rapidly led to use of dental implants over recent years. Implant complications are often inadvertent sequelae of improper diagnosis, treatment planning, surgical method, and placement. This can be overcome by using surgical guides for implant positioning. Although conventionally made surgical guide are used, the clinical outcome is often unpredictable, and even if the implants are well placed, the location and deviation of the implants may not meet the optimal prosthodontic requirements. High accuracy in planning and execution of surgical procedures is important in securing a high success rate without causing iatrogenic damage. This can be achieved by computed tomography, 3D implant planning software, image-guided template production techniques, and computer-aided surgery. This article evaluates about the various systems of conventionally made surgical guide using radiograph and also the newer computer generated surgical guide in detail

Synthesis, characterization and antioxidant activities of novel N-substituted pyrazoline derivatives bearing 3-benzo[b]thiophene and 5-styryl substituents

703-716The new series of N-substituted pyrazoline derivatives bearing benzo[b]thiophene and styryl with trifluoromethyl substitution at para- and meta- positions were synthesized. The structures of newly synthesized compounds were characterized by UV, IR, NMR, Mass and single crystal XRD (SCXRD) and had been screened for antioxidant activity. The in vitro antioxidant activities screening revealed that hydroxyl radical scavenging (HRS) activities of compounds 3c, 3f, 4a, 4e, 4f, 5c, 5d 5e and 5g are stronger than the other compounds and the compound 5g shows much better antioxidant activity

Prevalence of dental caries in a pediatric population during the COVID-19 omicron pandemic era in South India

Caries is a multifactorial disease that involves a majority of the pediatric population. If not diagnosed and treated, it can lead to severe consequences affecting the permanent dentition. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of oral foci of infection in a multispeciality hospital during the pandemic in Chennai, South India. The majority of the patients examined had caries