Frequency of bleeding complications in Algerian patients treated with the vitamin K antagonist acenocoumarol and associated factors

Background: The major complication of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy is bleeding. This study aimed to estimate the rate of hemorrhagic accidents and identify the hemorrhagic factors in Algerian patients treated by the VKA, acenocoumarol.Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study in patients undergoing VKA therapy, followed in the cardiology department of the University Hospital of Sidi Bel Abbes.Results: One hundred patients were included. We recorded 22 cases of bleeding. Overdose and concomitant use of drugs that interfere with the acenocoumarol effect are significant risk factors of bleeding.Conclusions: Knowledge of predictive factors for VKA-related excessive anticoagulation seems to be of the utmost importance for improving patient management. There is a need for a national registry to assess the efficacy and safety of drug use in the short and long term. This pilot study is a cornerstone in the development of oral anticoagulation therapy monitoring in our region

Évaluation de la prescription et de l’utilisation des benzodiazépines dans la ville de Sidi Bel-Abbès

AbstractIntroduction-A high consumption of benzodiazepines (BZDs) has been noticed sometimesoutside the rules of prescription recommendations, which makes theirconsumption a major public health problem. The present study aimed to evaluatethe prescription and use of BZDs in Sidi Bel-Abbès city.Methods-: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out from February01st, 2018 to June 30th, 2018 evaluating the prescription and use of BZDs in of SidiBel-Abbès by means of a questionnaire distributed to patients from the psychiatrichospital, the CHU psychiatry department and community pharmacists. The primaryendpoint was the assessment of the prescription and use of BZDs in this city. Dataentry and analysis were performed using SPSS software.Results-A total of 353 patients treated with at least one BZD were included, including178 men. The prescription rate of BZDs was 1.10, young people (59.77%) andmarried people (60.34%) were the privileged consumers. The prescription was theprerogative of psychiatrists, in monotherapy (07.42%), the molecule most frequentlyprescribed was Bromazepam (31.07%) and night intake was the most important(49.01%). BZDs were used to combat insomnia (25.21%), anxiety (16.43%), for aperiod of more than a year (57.79%).Conclusion-The prescription and use of BZDs in Sidi Bel-Abbès has proven to be important.Insomnia and anxiety were the main reasons for their use, and Bromazepam wasthe most molecule frequently used. RésuméIntroduction-Une forte consommation des benzodiazépines (BZDs) a été remarquéeen dehors parfois des règles de recommandations de prescription, ce qui rend leurconsommation un problème majeur de santé publique.La présente étude a eu pourobjectif d’évaluer la prescription et l’usage des BZDs dans la ville de Sidi Bel-Abbès.Méthodes-Il s’agissait d’une étude descriptive transversale réalisée du 01 Février2018 au 30 Juin 2018 évaluant la prescription et l’usage des BZDs dans la villede Sidi Bel-Abbès au moyen d’un questionnaire distribué aux patients de l’hôpitalpsychiatrique, du service de psychiatrie du CHU et aux pharmaciens d’officine.Lecritère de jugement principal était l’évaluation de la prescription et de l’utilisationdes BZDs dans cette ville. La saisie et l'analyse des données ont été réalisées par lelogiciel SPSS.Résultats-Au total, 353 patients traités au moins par une BZD ont été inclus dont178 hommes. Le taux de prescription des BZDs était de 1.10, des jeunes (59,77 %)et des personnes mariées (60,34%) constituaient les consommateurs privilégiés. Laprescription était l’apanage des psychiatres, en monothérapie (07,42%), la moléculela plus fréquemment prescrite était le Bromazépam (31,07%) et la prise nocturneétait la plus importante (49,01%). Les BZDs étaient utilisées pour combattrel’insomnie (25,21%), l’anxiété (16,43%), pour une durée de plus d’une année (57,79%).Conclusion-La prescription et l’utilisation des BZDs dans la ville de Sidi Bel-Abbès s’estavérée importante. L’insomnie et l’anxiété constituaient les principales raisons de leurutilisation, et le Bromazépam était la molécule la plus fréquemment utilisée

Pratiques de l’automédication à l’ère de la pandémie COVID-19 dans trois villes de l’Ouest algérien [Practices of self-medication in the COVID-19 pandemic era in three cities of Western Algeria]

French Abstract:  Introduction- Face à la pandémie COVID-19, et en absence d’un traitement efficace et sûr, de nombreux médicaments étaient utilisés sans avis médical. La présente étude a eu pour objectif d’évaluer les pratiques de dispensation des médicaments sans ordonnance dans trois villes de l’Ouest algérien. Matériels et méthodes- L’étude a été réalisée durant la pandémie du 01 Janvier 2022 au 31 Mars 2022 au moyen d’un questionnaire distribué aux pharmaciens d’officines exer­çant à Tiaret, Sidi Bel-Abbès et El-Bayadh. Le critère de jugement principal était l’éva­luation des pratiques d’automédication. La saisie, l’analyse statistique des données et l’édition des résultats ont été réalisées par le logiciel SPSS version 20. Résultats- Au total, 90 officines ont participé à l’étude. La majorité du personnel d’offi­cine (98,89%) a perçu que la pandémie a amplifié l’automédication.Les différents symp­tômes de la COVID-19 étaient la cause principale (44,53 %) de la tendance à cette pra­tique. Le paracétamol était le plus consommé (83,67 %), suivi de l’azithromycine (36,73 %), la prednisolone (31,10 %), l’amoxicilline/acide clavulanique (30,53 %), le zinc (27,38 %), la vitamine C (27,08%), la vitamine D (16,31%), le magnésium(12,92%) et même l’hy­droxychloroquine (25,56%). Conclusion-Un abus et un mésusage de plusieurs médicaments ont été constaté, des ef­forts doivent être entrepris afin d’atténuer les risques de l’automédication en impliquant activement les pharmaciens dans l’éducation thérapeutique du patient. English Abstract: Introduction-Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the absence of an effective andsafe treatment,many drugs were used without medical advice.This study aimed to evaluate the­practices of dispensing non-prescription drugs in three cities in western Algeria. Materials and methods- The study was carried out during the pandemic from January 01st, 2022 to March 31st, 2022 using a questionnaire distributed to community pharmacists prac­ticing in Tiaret, Sidi Bel-Abbes and El-Bayadh. The main endpoint was the evaluation of­self-medication practices. Data entry, statistical analysis and editing of results were perfor­med using SPSS software version 20. Results- In total, 90 pharmacies participated in the study, the majority of pharmacy staff (98.89%) having perceived that the pandemic amplified self-medication, the various symp­tomsof COVID-19 were the main cause (44.53%) of the tendency to this practice. Parace­tamol (83.67%) was the most consumed, followed by azithromycin (36.73%), prednisolone (31.10%),amoxicillin_clavulanic acid (30.53%), zinc (27.38%), vitamin C (27.08 %), vitamin D(16.31%), magnesium(12.92%),and even hydroxychloroquine(25.56%). Conclusion- Abuse and misuse of several drugs have been observed, efforts must be made to reduce the risk of self-medication by actively involving pharmacists in therapeutic patient education

Pratiques de l’automédication à l’ère de la pandémie COVID-19 dans trois villes de l’Ouest algérien [Practices of self-medication in the COVID-19 pandemic era in three cities of Western Algeria]

French Abstract:  Introduction- Face à la pandémie COVID-19, et en absence d’un traitement efficace et sûr, de nombreux médicaments étaient utilisés sans avis médical. La présente étude a eu pour objectif d’évaluer les pratiques de dispensation des médicaments sans ordonnance dans trois villes de l’Ouest algérien. Matériels et méthodes- L’étude a été réalisée durant la pandémie du 01 Janvier 2022 au 31 Mars 2022 au moyen d’un questionnaire distribué aux pharmaciens d’officines exer­çant à Tiaret, Sidi Bel-Abbès et El-Bayadh. Le critère de jugement principal était l’éva­luation des pratiques d’automédication. La saisie, l’analyse statistique des données et l’édition des résultats ont été réalisées par le logiciel SPSS version 20. Résultats- Au total, 90 officines ont participé à l’étude. La majorité du personnel d’offi­cine (98,89%) a perçu que la pandémie a amplifié l’automédication.Les différents symp­tômes de la COVID-19 étaient la cause principale (44,53 %) de la tendance à cette pra­tique. Le paracétamol était le plus consommé (83,67 %), suivi de l’azithromycine (36,73 %), la prednisolone (31,10 %), l’amoxicilline/acide clavulanique (30,53 %), le zinc (27,38 %), la vitamine C (27,08%), la vitamine D (16,31%), le magnésium(12,92%) et même l’hy­droxychloroquine (25,56%). Conclusion-Un abus et un mésusage de plusieurs médicaments ont été constaté, des ef­forts doivent être entrepris afin d’atténuer les risques de l’automédication en impliquant activement les pharmaciens dans l’éducation thérapeutique du patient. English Abstract: Introduction-Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the absence of an effective andsafe treatment,many drugs were used without medical advice.This study aimed to evaluate the­practices of dispensing non-prescription drugs in three cities in western Algeria. Materials and methods- The study was carried out during the pandemic from January 01st, 2022 to March 31st, 2022 using a questionnaire distributed to community pharmacists prac­ticing in Tiaret, Sidi Bel-Abbes and El-Bayadh. The main endpoint was the evaluation of­self-medication practices. Data entry, statistical analysis and editing of results were perfor­med using SPSS software version 20. Results- In total, 90 pharmacies participated in the study, the majority of pharmacy staff (98.89%) having perceived that the pandemic amplified self-medication, the various symp­tomsof COVID-19 were the main cause (44.53%) of the tendency to this practice. Parace­tamol (83.67%) was the most consumed, followed by azithromycin (36.73%), prednisolone (31.10%),amoxicillin_clavulanic acid (30.53%), zinc (27.38%), vitamin C (27.08 %), vitamin D(16.31%), magnesium(12.92%),and even hydroxychloroquine(25.56%). Conclusion- Abuse and misuse of several drugs have been observed, efforts must be made to reduce the risk of self-medication by actively involving pharmacists in therapeutic patient education

Self-injury in schizophrenia as predisposing factor for otomycosis

Ear self-mutilation have been reported in schizophrenia, Mechanical damages to the auditory canal, like cleaning ear with hard and unsterile objects are predisposing factors of otomycosis.We present a case of repeated self-induced auricular trauma in schizophrenic patient. Aural swab were collected and examined by direct microscopy and culture, revealing Aspergillus flavus. A traumatized external ear canal skin can present favourable condition for fungal growth in the psychiatric population. Keywords: Aspergillus flavus, Ear-injury, Otomycosis, Schizophrenia, Self-injur

Aspergillus Genus and Its Various Human Superficial and Cutaneous Features

Superficial and cutaneous aspergillosis is a rare fungal disease that is restricted to the outer layers of the skin, nails, and the outer auditory canal, infrequently invading the deeper tissue and viscera, particularly in immunocompromised patients. These mycoses are acquired through two main routes: direct traumatic inoculation or inhalation of airborne fungal spores into paranasal sinuses and lungs. Lesions are classified into three categories: otomycosis, onychomycosis, and cutaneous aspergillosis. Superficial and cutaneous aspergillosis occurs less frequently and therefore remains poorly characterized; it usually involves sites of superficial trauma—namely, at or near intravenous entry catheter site, at the point of traumatic inoculation (orthopaedic inoculation, ear-self-cleaning, schizophrenic ear self-injuries), at surgery incision, and at the site of contact with occlusive dressings, especially in burn patients. Onychomycosis and otomycosis are more seen in immunocompetent patients, while cutaneous aspergillosis is widely described among the immunocompromised individuals. This paper is a review of related literature

Fungal carriage of hospital trapped cockroaches: A prospective study

Cockroaches are considered parasite carriers, and their nocturnal habits and regular contact with various environments make them ideal carriers of diverse fungal species. The aim of this study was to isolate superficial fungi carried by cockroaches trapped at our health care institution. A total of 100 cockroaches were captured from 6 wards of the hospital and were investigated for the presence of fungi on their external surface by using SDA medium.In this survey, 78% of the sampled cockroaches were contaminated with 96 fungi of medical importance, and the fungal prevalence was linked to some hospital areas, such as nephroplogy-haemodialysis p = 0,013 OR = 1367 IC95% (1199–1558), which could be explained by the presence of dialysis devices in which cockroaches can hide.Correlations were found between cockroach fungal contamination and the following variables: kitchen p = 0,026, OR = 1,349, IC95% (1190–1530); toilets p = 0,011, OR = 2,813, IC95% (0,868–9112); and patient rooms p = 0,01, OR = 3,621, IC95% (1322–9920), probably due to cockroaches searching for food among waste, garbage, skin flakes, and hair.The main fungi isolated were Rhizopus sp (21,9%), Candida non candida (16,7%), Aspergillus niger (15,6%), and Lichtheimia sp (12,5%).These results suggest that cockroaches act as carriers of several medically important fungi and could be involved in their transfer to hospital settings. There is a need for better control of these insects, especially in kitchens, bathrooms, and patient rooms

The influence of gaseous ozone on the growth of fungi isolated from clinical and environmental samples

Background: Disinfection is performed in our laboratory using sodium hypochlorite, glutaraldehyde, alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide. All these products are known for their harmful side effects on human and ecological health. As a part of the search for new sterilization methods that respect the environment much more, we were interested in studying the antifungal activity of ozone gas on the most isolated fungi in our hospital “University Hospital Center Hassani Abdelkader of Sidi Bel Abbes”. Methods: This study focused on the antifungal activity of gaseous ozone on the most common fungal isolates in the hospital, with consideration of the duration of the exposure to ozone. Results: The fungicidal effect of ozone gas on molds was more effective compared to its effect on yeasts, it makes it possible to inhibit the reproduction and fungal growth of molds, in particular the filamentous molds and the most commonly isolated dermatophytes. A longer exposure would seem to be more effective. Conclusion: Ozone gas can be a new alternative for sterilization and disinfection techniques, especially filamentous fungi and dermatophytes