Spectrum of surgical site infection on the surgical floor; Increasing resistance to routine antibiotics

Objective: To know the spectrum of surgical site infections in general surgical patients so that specific strategies can be developed to decrease the morbidity caused by these infections.Material and Methods: All the patients who underwent general surgical operations on an emergency basis at the surgical unit of the District headquarters teaching hospital Rawalpindi from 01-01-2016 to 31-12-2017 were evaluated for surgical site infections. Surgical site infections suspected clinically were confirmed by culture and sensitivity. Involved flora and their sensitivity to various antibiotics were also determined.Results: Among 2202 emergency operated patients, two hundred and thirty-seven patients (10.76%) had surgical site infection confirmed on culture and sensitivity (C/S) report. About sixty-five percent of patients were male. Of two hundred and thirty-seven positive patients, the twenty-nine patient underwent laparotomy for penetrating and blunt abdominal trauma. Staph aureus was present in one hundred and forty-five (79.67%) patients. E.coli was the commonest Gram-ve micro-organism (70.95%). Forty-six patients (19.40%) were sensitive to Cefoperazone sodium followed by twenty patients (8.43%) to Piperacillin sodium and twenty-one (8.86%) each to Amikacin and Linezolid.Conclusion: Surgical site infection causes a significant rise in morbidity on the surgical floor. Most of the causative microorganisms are becoming resistant to routine antibiotics. Sensitivity to the broader spectrum of antibiotics like Cefoperazone and Linezolid is increasing

Methods of synthesis of hydrogels … A review

AbstractHydrogels are being investigated recently for the bioactive molecules (in particular pharmaceutical proteins) controlled release, such as matrices, and for the living cells encapsulation. Biodegradable nature of hydrogels has created much interest for drug delivery systems. The original three-dimensional structure disintegrates into nontoxic substances to ascertain an excellent biocompatibility of the gel. Chemical cross-linking is the highly resourceful method for the formation of hydrogels having an excellent mechanical strength. Cross-linkers used in hydrogel preparation should be extracted from the hydrogels before use due to their reported toxicity. Physically cross-linked methods for preparation of hydrogel are the alternate solution of cross-linker toxicity

Mass in Right Iliac Fossa- Clinicopathogical Evaluation

To identify clinico-pathologicalentities presenting as mass in right iliac fossa.Methods: In this observational study patients ofmass in right iliac fossa were recruited. All patientswho presented with sign and symptoms of mass inright iliac fossa were investigated and subjected toconservative or operative managements dependingupon the cause and response to conservativemanagement.Results: Appendicular mass (33.7%) was thecommonest finding, followed by cecalcarcinoma(9.8%), ileocecal tuberculosis(9.8%), psoasabcess (7.6%), retroperitoneal dermoid(3.3%), worminfestation (3.3%) and lymphoma (3.3%).Conclusion: Appendicular mass is the main causeof mass in right iliac fossa, with a wide range ofother causes

Impact of Financial Risk on Financial Performance of Banks in Pakistan; the Mediating Role of Capital Adequacy Ratio

Financial risks, cover credit, liquidity and operational risks, are the risks which banks face during their operations and all these risks have severe impact on the profitability of banks. The Basel Committee for Banking Supervision (BCBS) introduces Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) to overcome uncertainties and possible losses (Risk) to the banks. In this context, the aim in this study is to identify impact of financial risk on financial performance of banks in Pakistan with mediating role of Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR). The findings show that credit and liquidity risks have negative relationship with financial performance, whereas operational risk has a positive relationship with financial performance and capital adequacy ratio of banks in Pakistan. This study is useful in devising the rules and regulations by the regulators (Basel Committee and State Bank of Pakistan) for risk measurement and management by the banking sector.&nbsp

Impact of Corporate Reputation on Firm Risk: An Analysis of Pakistan Stock Exchange Listed and PACRA Rated Firms

This study has examined the impact of corporate reputation on risk exposure of the firms listed at Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) and rated by Pakistan Credit Rating Agency (PACRA). It has employed firm’s credit ratings as a proxy for corporate reputation. It has covered the time period from 2007-2016 and unbalanced and undated panel regression analysis has been carried out to observe the significance of the relationship among corporate reputation and the firm risk i.e. total risk and its parts (systematic and unsystematic risk). It has been found that corporate reputation has a significant negative relationship with total risk and systematic risk of the firm. It is however found that corporate reputation is insignificant in explaining the unsystematic risk of the firms. Leverage and profitability (the control variables) are also found significant in explaining the risk exposures of the firms