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: Hypertension is probably the most important public health problem around the world. People with periodontal disease may be at greater risk of hypertension. The inflammatory effects of periodontal disease help to promote endothelial dysfunction in arteries which may lead to changes in blood pressure. Salivary MMP-8 has been associated with both periodontal disease and prevalent hypertension. Aim of study: This study was conducted to measure salivary matrix metalloproteinase - 8, in relation to periodontal health condition among a group of patients with hypertension in comparison with control group. Materials and methods: Ninety subjects, aged 45-50 years old were included in this study, seeking treatment for chest pain in Ibn-A
... Show MoreBackground: Consanguineous marriage is a relationship between biologically related individuals. Genetic factors have a role in gene environment interactions that takes the center stage. The evidence of oral disease (gingivitis and periodontitis) may depend on genetic syndromes, inherited diseases, familial studies etc. The present study aims at assessing dental plaque and gingival health condition in children of inbreeding parents compared with children of outbreeding parents among primary schools in Al-Qasem city/ Babylon governorate in Iraq. Materials and methods: this comparative study included three hundred ninety eight (398) students, 6-12 years old, from 4 primary schools; 199 children had their parents of inbreeding marriage with
... Show MoreBackground: The COVID-19 virus outbreak had a massive effect on many parts of people's lives, as they were advised to quarantine and lockdown to prevent the virus from spreading, which had a big impact on people's mental health, anxiety, and stress. Many internal and external factors lead to stress. This negatively influences the body's homeostasis. As a result, stress may affect the body's capacity to use energy to defend against pathogens. Many recent investigations have found substantial links between human mental stress and the production of hormones, prohormones, and/or immunological chemicals. some of these researches have verified the link between stress and salivary cortisol levels. The aim of this study is to measure salivary corti
... 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: Pressure ulcers remain a serious complication for immobile patients and a burden for healthcare professionals. Objectives: To assess health behavior prevention among critical care nurses regarding pressure ulcer prevention for hospitalized patients and to find out the relationship between critical care nurses health behavior prevention and sociodemographic variables. Methods: A cross-sectional design study was carried out in critical care units at three teaching hospitals. The study period extended from November 1, 2022, to January 28, 2023. Non-probability purposive sampling, whose target population was 100 nurses who work in critical care units in Baghdad, Iraq. The data were collected using a self-administered questio
... Show MoreHepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant global health problem. Populations of different ethnicities show great heterogeneity in HBV genotype frequency distributions. A cross-sectional study was conducted during June–October 2018 to determine frequency of HBV genotypes among chronic HBV patients from Baghdad, Iraq. The method of detection was nested polymerase chain reaction system. Further, the study assessed the impact of HBV genotypes on serum level of liver-function tests: total serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Eighty chronic HBV patients were enrolled in the study. Six HBV genotypes were identified (A, B, C, D, E and F). The most frequently encountered genotypes
... Show MoreAbstract: Background: Drug toxicity and chemotherapeutic side effects negatively impact the quality of life of breast cancer patients. Objectives: to evaluate the efficacy of pharmaceutical Interventions (PI) on quality of life (QOL)Among chemotherapy intake breast cancer women. Method: A pre-post interventional study was carried out at the chemotherapy ward of Alhabobi Hospital in Alnasiriyah City. Eligible patients received comprehensive pharmaceutical care and a self-compiled Breast Cancer Patients Medication Knowledge Guide pamphlet. Each patient received two sessions, the first at baseline and the second after 7, 14, or 21 days depending on the next taking dose of chemotherapy. Each session lasted for approximately 15-30 minutes. Par
... Show More