Bac kground:: Multidrug resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of nosocomial and community acquired infections. The glycopeptides vancomycin has been proposed as the drug of choice for treating such infections; this lead to the emergence of vancomycin intermediate sensitive S. aureus (VISA) and vancomycin resistant S.aureus (VRSA).
Objjec tt iiv es :: To identify the vancomycin resistance both phenotypically and genotypically among MRSA isolates from different hospitals and to determine the sensitivity of these isolates to different antimicrobial agents
Metthods:: A total of 204 S. aureus isolates were obtained randomly from various clinical specimens including (wound swab, burn swab, ear swab, urine, sputum, blood and other body fluids) from different inpatient and outpatient who were attending different hospitals in Baghdad. The susceptibility pattern of the S. aureus isolates to different antibiotics was determined by disk diffusion method and vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for MRSA isolates were determined using broth dilution method following clinical laboratory standard institution (CLSI) guidelines. Van A gene was amplified by PCR using standard primers. Res ull tts :: All VRSA isolates were MRSA. Twelve VRSA isolates were positive for van A gene, while the remaining ten isolates were negative. All VRSA had a vancomycin MIC of 16μg/ml or more. In the present study, VRSA showed resistance to a wide range of antimicrobial agents (Ampicillin, Cefalothin, Cefoxitin, Erythromycin, Gentamycin, Oxacillin, Penicillin, Rifampin, Tetracycline and Trimethoprim). Conc llus iions :: There were high incidences of resistance to the commonly used antibiotics among VRSA isolates compared to VISA and VSSA. Further molecular studies such as PCR technique to identify genes rather than van A (e.g van HAX analogue) might be suitable to predict VRSA lacking the van A gene
Background: The menopause is physiological changes in women that give rise to adaptive changes at both systemic and oral level. During menopause, ovarian function declines and the production of sex steroid hormones reduces significantly affecting the oral tissues and periodontal structures leading to chronic inflammation of the gingiva, increased risk of tooth loss. Aim of study: The present study was designed to estimate the oral hygiene status in relation to salivary estradiol level among pre and post-menopausal women. Materials and Methods: Ninety women aged 48-52 years old, the control group consisted of 45 pre-menopausal women and the study group consisted of 45 post-menopause were examined for gingival index, plaque index and calcu
... Show MoreCommunication skills are essential for health professionals to achieve a positive relationship with patients, improving their health and quality of life. Communication is the foundation for obtaining medical history and conveying a diagnosis and treatment plan.
To assess the knowledge, practice of communication skills among primary care physicians, to find out any barriers related to the communication skills, and the association between the studied variables with knowledge and practice of communicati
Background: Tooth wear is one of the most common problems in the older dentate population which results from the interaction of three processes (attrition, abrasion and erosion) and it affects all societies, different age groups, and all cultures. This study was achieved to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of tooth wear among institutionalized residents in Baghdad city\ Iraq. Subjects and Methods: This survey was accomplished on four private and one governmental institution in Baghdad city. One-hundred twenty three (61 males, 62 females) aged 50-89 years were participated in this study. The diagnosis and recording of tooth wear were according to criteria of Smith and Knight. Results: The prevalence of tooth wear was 100% with a mean
... Show MoreThe game theory has been applied to all situations where agents’ (people or companies) actions are utility-maximizing, and the collaborative offshoot of game theory has proven to be a robust tool for creating effective collaboration strategies in a broad range of applications. In this paper first, we employ the Banzhaf values to show the potential cost to waste producers in the case of a cooperation and to reduce the overall costs of processing non-recyclable waste during cooperation between producers. Secondly, we propose an application of the methodology to study a case for five waste producers' waste management in the Al-Mahmudiya factory with the aim of displaying the potential cost to waste producers in case of cooperatio
... Show MoreBackground: Despite the importance of vaccines in preventing COVID-19, the willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccines is lower among RA patients than in the general population. Objective: To determine the extent of COVID-19 knowledge among RA patients and their attitudes and perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines. Methods: A qualitative study with a phenomenology approach was performed through face-to-face, individual-based, semi-structured interviews in the Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq, rheumatology unit. A convenient sample of RA patients using disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs was included until the point of saturation. A thematic content analysis approach was used to analyze the obtained data. Results: Twenty-five RA pa
... Show MoreBackground: Age determination of skeletal remains is apart of many medico-legal as well as anthropological examination. Many anatomical structures have been studied, but the teeth and their measurements seem to be the most reliable method since teeth represent the most durable and resilient part of the skeleton. This study was undertaken for estimating the chronological age among Iraqi adult subjects based on various morphological variables of canine teeth using digital panoramic radiograph. Material and methods: The sample in the current study consisted of 240 Iraqi patients attending to the dental radiological clinic at College of dentistry/ Babylon University taking panoramic radiographs for different diagnostic purposes, the study samp
... Show MoreObjective: to evaluate the increase in weight after biological agents and the association of weight gain with the body mass index among a sample of patients attending Baghdad Teaching Hospital Methods: A prospective study is carried out in Baghdad teaching hospital biological units and outpatient clinic of rheumatology for a period of one year starting On April 2015 and ending on March 2016. 120 patients were included in the study 40 psoriatic arthritis .40 ankylosing spondylitis and 40 rheumatoid arthritis Results : The study findings indicate that significance differences are seen regarding weight gain and b
Background: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of mortality among women in Iraq forming 23% of cancer related deaths. The low survival from the disease is a direct consequence to the advanced stages at diagnoses. Aim: To document the composite stage of breast cancer among Iraqi patients at the time of diagnosis; correlating the observed findings with other clinical and pathological parameters at presentation. Patients and Methods: A retrospective study enrolling the clinical and pathological characteristics of 603 Iraqi female patients diagnosed with breast cancer. The composite stage of breast cancer was determined according to UICC TNM Classification System of Breast Cancer and the Ameri
... Show MoreABSTRACT Background: Dental caries is a most common social and intractable infectious disease in human. Saliva is critical for preserving and maintaining oral health and salivary elements had many effects on caries experience. Aim of study: This study was conducted to assess dental caries severity by age and gender and their relation to salivary zinc and copper among a group of adults aged (19-22) years. Materials and methods: After examination eighty persons aged 19-22 years of both gender. Caries severity was documented according to DMFS index. Stimulated salivary samples were collected and chemically analyzed under standardized condition to detect salivary elements zinc and copper. Concentrations of Zinc and copper were measured by using
... Show More