Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (mrsa) in a Malaysian hospital

Between August 1990 to November 1991, 905 of 2583 (35.4%) isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were found to be methicillin-resistant in a general hospital in Malaysia. A detailed study of 539 of these isolates showed a high prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the surgical/orthopaedic wards, paediatric wards and the special care unit. The yield of MRSA was highest from wounds/ulcers/skin swabs accounting for 64.2 per cent followed by 6.9 per cent in blood cultures. Vancomycin remains the drug of choice with no resistance detected. The resistance to ciprofloxacin was 6.7 per cent, rifampicin 4.5 per cent and fusidic acid 2.0 per cent. Most isolates were resistant to aminoglycosides. In view of the high prevalence of MRSA in this hospital, the authorities must introduce more effective measures to control its spread as a nosocomial pathogen. Otherwise it may seriously disrupt the efficient delivery of health care services in the country.

Variations in needle sharing practices among intravenous drug users in Possil (Glasgow)

Glasgow has an intravenous drug using (IVDU) population which is probably larger but hitherto less infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than IVDUs elsewhere in Scotland. This 1988 study of 50 Glasgow IVDUs reports disturbingly high rates of sharing injecting equipment, and points to imprisonment as a possible factor in increasing such risk taking behaviour.

Chlordiazepoxide vs. methadone in opiate withdrawal: a preliminary double blind trial

A double blind trial of chlordiazepoxide vs. methadone in the management of the opiate withdrawal syndrome was conducted in a group of 24 regular heroin takers. Subjective and objective measures including physiological parameters were recorded to compare the severity of opiate withdrawal between the two groups. No significant difference was found in terms of subjective withdrawal distress between the two treatment conditions, although there was a tendency to a return of withdrawal symptoms in the methadone group towards the end of treatment. A nurse rating scale demonstrated a significantly higher level of withdrawal signs in the chlordiazepoxide group on day 3. Physiological measures suggested that neither group experienced a severe withdrawal illness. A similar number in each group (37%) became completely drug free.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: People with metabolic syndrome are twice as likely to die from, and three times as likely to have a heart attack or stroke compared with people without the syndrome. People with metabolic syndrome have a five-fold greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes. We investigated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus. Methods: It was a cross sectional study. The study was conducted in Department of Biochemistry, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet & Diabetic Hospital, Sylhet. The study was conducted From July 2008 to June 2009 among 200 patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients with age >20 years. Along with blood glucose, different components of metabolic syndrome was assessed, i.e. serum triglyceride level, serum HDL level, blood pressure and waist circumference. Results- Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 73.5% according to NCEP-ATP III criteria, 81.0% according to modified NCEP-ATP III criteria, 82.5% according to modified WHO criteria and 61.0% according to IDF criteria. All variables other than waist hip ratio and fasting blood sugar had statistically significant higher mean values among patients with metabolic syndrome than patients without metabolic syndrome. Conclusion: It may be concluded that prevalence of metabolic syndrome is considerable in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients in our population. The considerable prevalence of metabolic syndrome in our population is implicative of an alarming risk of cardiovascular disease in future. Keywords: Metabolic syndrome; Type II diabetes mellitus. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cardio.v4i1.9385 Cardiovasc. J. 2011; 4(1): 17-25