Background: Antimicrobial prescribing patterns have an important role in the emergence of resistance, and community pharmacists have a substantial influence on this issue. Objective: To assess community pharmacists' behaviors and attitudes toward antimicrobial dispensing, determine their proportions and categories, and examine the underlying rationales for this practice. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey of community pharmacists in Iraq was conducted from June to August 2023, using a self-administered validated questionnaire. The attitudes, practices, and motivations driving the distribution of antimicrobials without a prescription (AWP) were explored in three areas. Results: A sizable proportion (61.6%) of respondents rejected dispensing AWP at community pharmacies. Patients primarily seek antibacterials from community pharmacies owing to budget constraints, according to 82.7% of respondents, rather than for consultation and diagnostic services. The most powerful element in a pharmacist's decision to administer AWP is that patients will seek antimicrobials from another pharmacy if they are not dispensed by the pharmacist, owing to the pharmacist's experience in infection management. The study found that 50%–74% of patients who visited community pharmacies sought AWP. Antimicrobials are most commonly provided without a prescription for cold and flu and urinary tract infections (37.3% and 27.7%, respectively). Conclusions: The majority of pharmacists regularly dispense AWP. To guarantee compliance with Iraqi legislation and laws governing AWP distribution, ongoing training programs should be created to educate the public on the most effective methods.
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignant neoplasm of the oral mucosa. Human papillomavirus (HPV) virus cause a broad scope of diseases from benign to invasive tumors, types 16 and 18 classified as carcinogenic to humans. This study aimed to provide the first molecular characterization of HPV types in Iraq. Thirty-five unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected from histopathologically confirmed patients with oral cancer were enrolled in this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from exfoliating cells to amplify HPV-DNA using HPV-L1 gene sequence primers by polymerase chain reaction method (PCR), the viral genotyping was performed using direct sequencing method. HPV genotypes identified were deposited in Gen
... Show MoreThe aim of this study is to describe the leech species that are used in some of the alternative medicine clinics in Baghdad Province based on morphometric measurements and colouring pattern of the body. A collection of twenty leeches was provided from some clinics. All specimens were identified and described based on standard available keys. The morphometric characteristics and colouring patterns were recorded and the indicated that these leeches were Hirudo orientalis Utevsky & Trontelj, 2005 and H. verbana Carena, 1820.
Background: Most primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) in Iraq have a referral system records; however, this mechanism does not function well because of the lack of other requirements for an efficient referral system.
Objective: To assess the practice & opinion of doctors in PHCs toward the referral system, and to determine the doctors in PHC's commitment to referral system instructions and guidelines.
Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study with analytic elements was conducted in nine health directorates in Iraq, from the 1st October 2018 – 30th June 2019.One PHC was selected randomly form each sector in every governorate, A questionnaire was used to collect the required information.
... Show MoreBackground:Amino acid disorders are a major group of inborn error metabolism (IEM) with variable clinical presentation; its diagnosis constitutes a real challenge in a community with high consanguinity rate and no systematic newborn screening.
Objectives: to provide data about amino acid disorders detected in high-risk Iraqi children by using quantitative amino acid fluorescent high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis.
Type of the study: Cross-sectional study.
Methods: a descriptive cross sectional study from 1st February to 1st December 2014, at Neurological ward and clinic of the Children Welfare teaching Hospital, in Baghdad - Ira
... Show MoreOral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignant neoplasm of the oral mucosa. Human papillomavirus (HPV) virus cause a broad scope of diseases from benign to invasive tumors, types 16 and 18 classified as carcinogenic to humans. This study aimed to provide the first molecular characterization of HPV types in Iraq. Thirty-five unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected from histopathologically confirmed patients with oral cancer were enrolled in this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from exfoliating cells to amplify HPV-DNA using HPV-L1 gene sequence primers by polymerase chain reaction method (PCR), the viral genotyping was performed using direct sequencing method. HPV genotypes identified were deposited in Gen
... Show MoreThe present study aims to detect the distribution of dfrA1 and cat1 antibiotic resistance genes among uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) in pregnant teen women and determine their susceptibility to common antibiotic uses. We collected urine (116) samples from patients in hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq. Isolation and identification of bacteria (culturing, biochemical test, and genetically by 16S rRNA gene), antibiotic susceptibility tests (eight antibiotics), and detection of the dfrA1 and cat1 resistance genes, and used SPSS program for statistically analyzing the results. The distributed UPEC in patients most than another causative agent in percentage (50%). It was highly resistan
... Show MoreIn the present work, the radioactivity of ten soil specimens has been measured, which were gathered from various sites from AL-Taimeem area in Al-Anbar province, The qualitative activity of natural radionuclides 238U, 232Th and 40K for soil specimens were evaluated by utilizing gamma-ray spectroscopy with NaI(Tl) detector of (3"×3") dimension. The results revealed that, the qualitative activity, for 238U was varied from (14.730 Bq/kg) to (28.070 Bq/kg), for 232Th was varied from (16.510 Bq/kg) to (29.480 Bq/kg), for 40K was varied from (143.820 Bq/kg) to (231.550 Bq/kg) ,with an average values of (21.152±2.98 Bq/kg) , (24.219±3.93 Bq/kg), (190.720±22.20 Bq/kg), success
... Show More313 blood samples were collected from bacteremia patients, including 146 samples (30 from patients and 116 from outpatients) from Azadi teaching hospital, 36 samples from the dialysis unit at Kirkuk General Hospital, 126 samples (42 from inpatients and 84 from outpatients) from the Children's Hospital, and 5 samples from the Women's and Obstetrics Hospital in Kirkuk province, for the period from January 24, 2022, to September 10, 2022. The study, including the isolation and diagnosis of bacteria and the study of their resistance to antibiotics, The results show that 32 (17.87%) positive growth cultures were obtained from febrile patients, 3 (8.33%) from dialysis patients in the dialysis unit, and 15 (65.21%) from burn and wound patients.
... Show MoreBackground: Saliva plays an important role in oral health. Several salivary proteins are involved in the antimicrobial defence mechanism and are able to eliminate or inhibit bacterial growth in the oral cavity. Secretory IgA (SIgA) is one of the principal antibodies present in saliva, could help oral immunity by preventing microbial adherence, neutralizing enzymes and toxins. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between salivary Streptococcus Mutans (SM) count and S IgA in stimulated whole saliva in children with primary dentition compared to those with permanent teeth in relation to some oral hygiene parameters. Material and methods: Stimulated whole saliva was collected from 50 children (25 with primary dentation and
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