A Study on Medically Inclined Apparently Healthy Individuals Acquiring Urinary Tract Infections in North-Central, Nigeria

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) simply the symptomatic or asymptomatic colonization of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder or/and the urethra by microorganisms, commonly bacteria. When these infections affect the kidneys, it is known as pyelonephritis. Objectives: To calculate the percentile risk of medically inclined apparently healthy individuals acquiring urinary tract infection. Methods: Written consent was sought on every questionnaire. It was carried out within the period of August to November, 2018. The study was done with over 160 persons; 154 questionnaires were accepted as properly filled. The questionnaires were gender specific. Persons cut across doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, nursing students and medical students. The sampling study used was single blinded method. Areas studied were Plateau state (Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau Specialist Hospital and school of Midwifery; Vom), Abuja (University of Abuja Medical College Campus) and Nasarawa state (Bingham University). Data was collected, tabulated and classified into mild, moderate and high risks. (males, N = 71 with an age range of 19 - 45 years; females, N = 83 with an age range of 19 - 44 years). Results: Assessment criteria male/female low risk 42 (59.2%)/10 (12.0%), moderate risk 23 (32.4%)/29 (34.9%) and high risk 6 (08.5%)/44 (53.0%). Conclusions: Hygiene is a crucial factor in predisposition to UTI. Women are at higher risk of acquiring urinary tract infections. Sickle cell may be a predisposing factor to pyelonephritis.

Self-Efficacy as an Indicator for Success in a Premedical Curriculum for Underrepresented Minority High School Students

Context: The Aspiring DOctors PreCollege Program at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Cleveland Campus is unique among other precollege pipeline and mini-medical school programs in that it engages learners from urban underserved communities for an entire academic year as a cocurricular adjunct to their high school course load. One day per month, students are brought to the medical college campus and introduced to the field of osteopathic medicine. Students also participate in activities related to preparing for college admissions, diversity in higher education, mental health and wellness, and financial stewardship. All these activities are done with the goal of increasing the number of underrepresented minority (URM) students in the health care professions. Objective: Self-efficacy has been identified as a measure of internal motivation and belief in one’s ability to succeed in the face of challenges. The purpose of this study is to determine what effect, if any, participation in this program has on URM student self-efficacy. Methods: Students were asked to complete a validated self-efficacy questionnaire at the start and end of this program to determine their levels of self-efficacy and if there were changes after participating in this program. Results: Ten of the 12 seniors completed pre- and post-self-efficacy surveys. Two main discoveries were made through this pilot. First, when tested at the beginning of the program, all students had high levels of self-efficacy (mean score, 4.45 of 5). Second, 2 items were specifically increased by a statistically significant amount. The students increased in self-efficacy concerning the responses “I can learn what is being taught in class this year” ( P = .024) and “My ability grows with effort” ( P = .015). Conclusions: With the competitive standards of acceptance into the Aspiring DOctors PreCollege Program, students enrolled in this program had high levels of self-efficacy from the onset. While there was modest increase across the board, many of these indicators remained consistently high after the program. Using self-efficacy as a screening tool for premedical students may be helpful in identifying candidates likely to succeed in a future medical career.

A study to assess the assess the food safety knowledge and hygienic practices among food handlers

Background: Improper food production, handling, and preparation techniques have direct influence on health. A food borne disease is a disease usually either infectious or toxic in nature, caused by agents that enter the body through ingestion of food. The objective of the present study was to assess the food safety knowledge and hygienic practices among food handlers and to assess the improvement in knowledge and hygienic practices after educational intervention.Methods: This was a longitudinal educational interventional study, carried out during October to December 2017 among 50 randomly selected food handlers in and around Gandhi Medical College campus, where the study subjects were interviewed by using a questionnaire in local language regarding their knowledge and practices of food handling, and were then later educated on proper food handling practices by lecture and demonstration method followed by a post intervention interview after a gap of 2 weeks.Results: Out of 50 food handlers, 62% had knowledge of the food borne diseases and it raises up to 100% post intervention. During pre-intervention, only 78% of the participants used to wash their hands before preparing meal and after intervention 92% were washing their hands before preparing meal.Conclusions: Food safety knowledge and hygienic practices among food handlers improved by 73% after the educational intervention. Maximum improvement was seen in the use of gloves, caps and hand washing practices.

Outcome of Fixed Dose Radioiodine Therapy in Hyperthyroid Patients –Three Years Follow up Study at INMAS Mitford

Background: Hyperthyroidism is a morbid condition. Radioiodine therapy is very safe, popular and effective treatment of hyperthyroidism. This study was design to determine the outcome of fixed dose radioiodine (RAI) therapy in hyperthyroid patients in a single institute. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted from January 2014 to December 2016 at 1Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, Sir Salimullah Medical College Campus, Mitford, Dhaka. A total 71 patients were enrolled for this study. All the patients were pretreated with antithyroid drugs than underwent fixed dose of RAI therapy. They were followed up at regular interval. Chi-square and paired t test was done to see the level of significance. Results: Mean age of the patients were 41.61 years (range 19-60 years). Male were 29 (40.8%) and female were 42 (59.2%). Mean months of pretreated with antithyroid drugs were 30.59 ± 23.68 months, range (2-96 months). Before RAI therapy mean TSH was 0.12 ± 0.14 μ IU/ml range (0.0001-0.54 μIU/ml) and after RAI therapy mean TSH was 1.6 ±1.5μ IU/ml range (0.002-5.00 μIU/ml). Before RAI therapy mean FT4 was 26.26 ±10.25 fmol/ml, range (7.86-47.78 fmol/ml ) and after RAI therapy mean FT4 was 23.45±8.22 fmol/ml, range (8.78-40.45 fmol/ml). All patients diveided into three groups: Graves’ disease (29), toxic multinodular goiter ( 28) and toxic autonomous nodule (14). After three years of follow up 27 (38%) patients were euthyroid, 2 (2.8%) remain hyperthyroid, 3(4.2%) were relapse cases and 39 (54.9%) were hypothyroid. Conclusion: This follow up study showed that patients treated with RAI therapy became hypothyroid in the long run. Relapse and persistent hyperthyroid state were very common phenomenon after RAI therapy. Bangladesh J. Nuclear Med. 21(1): 8-11, January 2018

Physical Environment and Hygiene status at food service establishments in a tertiary care medical college campus in Delhi: A Cross-sectional study

Introduction: Food can be a potential source of infection and disease, right from the point of preparation to the point of consumption. It is more likely in the food service establishments where mass food is prepared.Objectives: To study the physical environment and hygiene status at food service establishments in a tertiary care teaching hospital in central Delhi. Materials and Methods: An observational cross sectional study was conducted from June-August, 2014 in medical college and associated hospital in Delhi using questionnaire to assess sanitation and environmental hygiene status. The checklist contained 12 categories with a maximum possible score of 139 for the vegetarian and 140 for the non-vegetarian food establishments. The classification of the establishments on the basis of score obtained is as follows: Grade 1 = 0-25%, Grade 2= 26-50%, Grade 3= 51-75%, Grade 4 = 76-100% Data analysis: The data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.Results: A total 13 food service establishments were included of which most (92.3 %) were operated on contractual basis. Majority (84.6 %) provided non-vegetarian food. None of the food handlers were given uniform to wear during their working hours. Few (15.2%) were using caps but those were not covering the entire hair.Conclusion: The conditions of the food establishments in the medical college campus are not of prescribed standard and needs improvement. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v6i4.11533 Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.6(4) 2015 76-79