Impact of COVID-19 on Ophthalmologists

Objectives: To determine the effects of COVID 19 pandemic on the professional lives of ophthalmologists Methods: This cross sectional survey was conducted for 6 months in late 2020 and used google forms for data collection. Results: Total 68 respondents gave their likert response for each of the 20 statements. No. %, median, mode and interquartile range, of all respondents likert sentiment for each statement, were calculated. Survey results showed general, ‘consent and consensus’. Conclusion: Covid-19 has influenced professional lives of ophthalmologists

Displacement of hospital-acquired, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus clones by heterogeneous community strains in Kenya over a 13-Year period

We determined antibiotic susceptibility and employed Oxford Nanopore whole-genome sequencing to explore strain diversity, resistance, and virulence gene carriage among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains from different infection sites and timepoints in a tertiary Kenyan hospital. Ninety-six nonduplicate clinical isolates recovered between 2010 and 2023, identified and tested for antibiotic susceptibility on the VITEK ID/AST platform, were sequenced. Molecular typing, antibiotic resistance, and virulence determinant screening were performed using the relevant bioinformatics tools. The strains, alongside those from previous studies, were stratified into two periods covering 2010–2017 and 2018–2023 and comparisons were made. Mirroring phenotypic profiles, aac(6′)-aph(2″) [aminoglycosides]; gyrA (S84L) and grlA (S80Y) [fluoroquinolones]; dfrG [anti-folates]; and tet(K) [tetracycline] resistance determinants dominated the collection. While the proportion of ST239/241-t037-SCCmec III among MRSA reduced from 37.7% to 0% over the investigated period, ST4803-t1476-SCCmec IV and ST152-t355-SCCmec IV were pre-eminent. The prevalence of Panton–Valentine leucocidin (PVL) and arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME) genes was 38% (33/87) and 6.8% (6/87), respectively. We observed the displacement of HA-MRSA ST239/241-t037-SCCmec III with the emergence of ST152-t355-SCCmec IV and a greater clonal heterogeneity. The occurrence of PVL+/ACME+ CA-MRSA in recent years warrants further investigations into their role in the CA-MRSA virulence landscape, in a setting of high PVL prevalence

Frequency of Raised Intraocular Pressure and its Correlations to the energy used following Neodymium YAG Laser Posterior Capsulotomy in Pseudophakes

Objective: To determine the frequency of raised intraocular pressure in pseudophakic undergoing Nd YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. To compare the frequency of raised intraocular pressure in pseudophakic undergoing high and low energy Nd YAG laser posterior capsulotomy Methods: This Descriptive case series included 140 patients with pseudophakic posterior capsular opacity. After dilating the pupils with tropicamide Nd YAG laser posterior capsulotomy was performed and the total amount of energy used was noted. The frequency of raised IOP in post-laser patients and comparison of frequencies of raised IOP undergoing high and low energy Nd YAG laser posterior capsulotomies (≤ 50 MJ labeled as low energy and > 50 MJ labeled as high energy) were calculated Results: The mean age was 57.37 ±8.74. Mean pre laser IOP was 15.15 and post-laser IOP was 17.50. The rise in IOP was normal in 82.9% and raised in 17.1%. In lower energy group normal IOP was found in 35.7% and raised in 2.9%. In a higher energy group, normal IOP was found in 47.1%, and raised IOP was found to be 14.3%. Conclusion: Higher the energy used during the Nd YAG laser posterior capsulotomy procedure, more is the chance of a rise in post-laser intraocular pressure as compared to those in which lesser energy was being used

Epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of staphylococci other than Staphylococcus aureus from domestic animals and livestock in Africa: a systematic review

IntroductionStaphylococci other than Staphylococcus aureus (SOSA) in animals are becoming more pathogenic and antibiotic resistant and can potentially disseminate to humans. However, there is little synthesized information regarding SOSA from animals in Africa. This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of the epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of SOSA in companion animals (pets) and livestock in Africa.MethodThis systematic review (PROSPERO-CRD42021252303) was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines, and 75 eligible studies from 13 countries were identified until August 2022. Three electronic databases (Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science) were employed.ResultsThe frequently isolated SOSA were S. epidermidis, S. intermedius, S. pseudintermedius, S. xylosus, S. chromogenes, S. hyicus, M. sciuri, S. hominis, and S. haemolyticus. Thirty (40%) studies performed antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST). Penicillin (58%) and tetracycline (28%) resistance were most common across all SOSA with high rates of resistance to aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, and macrolides in some species. Resistance to last-resort antibiotics such as linezolid and fusidic acid were also reported. Limited data on strain typing and molecular resistance mechanisms precluded analysis of the clonal diversity of SOSA on the continent.ConclusionThe findings of this review indicate that research on livestock-associated SOSA in Africa is lacking in some regions such as Central and Western Africa, furthermore, research on companion animals and more advanced methods for identification and strain typing of SOSA need to be encouraged.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42021252303

Achieving sustainable competitive advantage through the effective management of human resources

M.B.A.Organisations today face increasing challenges and operate in climates of increasing turbulence, complexity and surprise (Manning, 1998: 27 - 35). Some of the realities that paralyse managers of organisations in these turbulent times are: • Socio-political and economic uncertainties threaten the unwary • Competition is escalating rapidly • The power of many stakeholders is increasing rapidly • Technology is transforming the way products and services are created, delivered and bought The aim of this research is to determine the effective human resource management practices applied by organisations that have sustainable competitive advantage

Success rate of Nasolacrimal Duct Probing in children with Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction after the age of one year

Introduction: The objective of this study was to determine the success rate of nasolacrimal duct probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children after the age of one year.Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive case series conducted on 145 children presented to Ophthalmology Department, Allied Hospital, Faisalabad with CNLDO. The probing and syringing of the nasolacrimal duct were performed under general anesthesia. The patency of the nasolacrimal system was evaluated by irrigation of saline stained with pyodine through the superior punctum, flow of saline into the nose was confirmed by soaking of throat gauze with pyodine stained fluid and/or oozing of pyodine stained fluid through nose. Patients were advised topical antibiotics and steroids for 3 weeks after the probing and follow-up checkups after 6 weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS computer software version 17.0. Effect modifier like age and gender was controlled by stratification. The post-stratification chi-square test was applied. P-value <0.05 was considered significant.Results: In our study, the frequency of success of nasolacrimal duct probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction in children between 1 to 2 years was 80.3%, children between 2 to 3 years of age were 53.1%, and children between 3 to 4 years of age were 32.4%.Conclusion: We concluded that the success rate of nasolacrimal duct probing for congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction is higher in children after the age of one year and decreases gradually as the age progresses

SARS-CoV-2 variants genotyping and diagnostic performance of a 2-genes detection assay

Background: The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the unprecedented expansion of molecular testing technologies. This study aimed at evaluating the performance of the FluoroType® SARS-CoV-2 plus assay for SARS-CoV-2 detection as well as describing the detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants using the FluoroType® SARS- CoV-2 varID Q kit. Methods: The study utilized 679 archived nasopharyngeal samples. Analytical performance and the diagnostic performance of the FluoroType® SARS-CoV-2 plus assay were determined using 320 samples and reference material. Variants identification on the FluoroType® SARS-CoV-2 varID Q assay was performed on 359 samples. The study was approved by the Aga Khan University Hospital Institutional Review Board. Results: The FluoroType® SARS-CoV-2 plus assay’s limit of detection was verified as 1.2 copies/μL. The repeatability SD and %CV were 2.45 and 9.8% while reproducibility had an SD and %CV of 1.39 and 5.68%, respectively, for the RdRP gene. The positive and negative percent agreement were determined to be 99.4% (95% CI; 98.1%–100%) and 99.4% (95% CI; 98.2%–100%) respectively. In the variants identification, samples from the original wave had no mutations identified while 12.3%, 49%, and more than 90% of the samples during the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron waves, respectively, had detectable mutations. Conclusions: The FluoroType® SARS-CoV-2 plus assay demonstrated analytical performance comparable to the reference method with a diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of \u3e99%. The FluoroType® SARS-CoV-2 varID Q assay achieved rapid detection of circulating variants

Orthostatic variation of pulmonary artery pressure in ambulatory heart failure patients

Abstract Aim To study effect of change in position (supine and standing) on pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in ambulatory heart failure (HF) patients. Methods Seventeen patients with CardioMEMS® sensor and stable heart failure were consented and included in this single center study. Supine and standing measurements were obtained with at least 5 min interval between the two positions. These measurements included PAP readings utilizing the manufacturer handheld interrogator obtaining 10 s data in addition to the systemic blood pressure and heart rate recordings. Results Mean supine and standing readings and their difference (Δ) were as follows respectively: Systolic PAP were 33.4 (± 11.19), 23.6 (± 10) and Δ was 9.9 mmHg (p = 0.0001), diastolic PAP were 14.2 (± 5.6), 7.9 (± 5.7) and Δ was 6.3 mmHg (p = 0.0001) and mean PAP were 21.8 (± 7.8), 14 (± 7.2) and Δ was 7.4 mmHg (p = 0.0001) while the systemic blood pressure did not vary significantly. Conclusion There is orthostatic variation of PAP in ambulatory HF patients demonstrating a mean decline with standing in diastolic PAP by 6.3 mmHg, systolic PAP by 9.9 mmHg and mean PAP by 7.4 mmHg in absence of significant orthostatic variation in systemic blood pressure or heart rate. These findings have significant clinical implications and inform that PAP in each patient should always be measured in the same position. Since initial readings at the time of implant were taken in supine position, it may be best to use supine position or to obtain a baseline standing PAP reading if standing PAP is planned on being used