Oral Presentations

Bacterial Pathogens and Pathophysiological Parameters Associated with Urinary Tract Infections in Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Teaching Hospital Karapitiya

2024-10-22T07:09:57Z

Bacterial Pathogens and Pathophysiological Parameters Associated with Urinary Tract Infections in Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Teaching Hospital Karapitiya Gunawardena, K.D.S.K.D.; Wijayaratne, W.M.D.G.B.; Peiris, H.H. Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are more commonly encountered in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria is more common compared to symptomatic bacteriuria in DM patients. Determination of causative pathogens and pathophysiological parameters associated with UTI in DM patients in Sri Lanka is invaluable to promote their health. Objectives: To identify pathogens causing UTIs in DM patients together with their antibiotic susceptibility patterns and to determine association of certain pathophysiological parameters to UTI in DM patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 60 DM patients attending to diabetic clinic, Teaching Hospital Karapitiya. Demographic data; age, gender, marital status, and pathological data; duration of diabetes, glycaemic control and type of treatment were collected using a questionnaire. Patients were instructed to collect clean-catch, mid-stream urine samples into provided sterile containers. Urine samples were cultured and processed according to the guidelines of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Antibiotic susceptibility test was performed using disc diffusion method. All the data were analysed using SPSS version 15.0. Results: There were 7 (11.67%) positive urine cultures out of 60 samples. They all were pure growths with colony count >99. Among them 10% of the patients were asymptomatic and only 1.67% were symptomatic. There were no significant associations between diabetic UTI and each parameter of age range (p=0.870), gender (p=0.402), marital status (p=0.518), type of diabetic treatment (p=0.601) and glycaemic control (p=0.325). However, a significant relationship was found between duration of DM and diabetic UTI (p=0.001). Escherichia coli (E. coli) was the most frequent isolated pathogen (85.71%) followed by Candida spp. (14.29%). All the E. coli strains showed similar antibiotic susceptibility pattern. They all were sensitive to nitrofurantoin, amikacin, gentamycin and meropenem but resistant to cefuroxime. Conclusions: Prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria is more common among patients with DM. Longer duration of diabetes for >5 years is found as a risk factor of UTI. E. coli is the most common pathogen among the diabetic patients having UTI.

In-vitro Sensitivities of Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus against Selected Cephalosporins

2024-10-28T04:51:26Z

In-vitro Sensitivities of Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus against Selected Cephalosporins Maduwanthika, P.V.P.; Wickramasinghe, S.S.; Peiris, H.H. Background: Staphylococcus aureus continues to be a major cause of both community acquired and health care-associated infections, including skin and skin structure infections, pneumonia, bacteraemia, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, prosthetic joint infections, and catheter related infections. Cephalosporins are one of the most commonly used antibiotics in clinical practice due to their relatively safe and broad-spectrum activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Objectives: To assess in-vitro sensitivities of control culture organism of S. aureus and clinical isolates of S. aureus against selected cephalosporins. Methods: The control culture organism of S. aureus (ATCC 25923) and 48 clinical isolates of S. aureus from high vaginal swabs were sub-cultured on blood agar and antibiotic sensitivity tests were performed according to the CLSI guidelines and readings were taken after overnight incubation at 37⁰C. Results: The control culture organism of S. aureus was sensitive to all cephalosporin antibiotics except cefuroxime. Among the clinical isolates of S. aureus, majority (33/48, 68.7%) were methicillin resistant and 31.3% (15/48) were methicillin sensitive. All isolates (15/15, 100%) of methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and 18.2% of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) were sensitive to cefpodoxime. All clinical isolates (100%, 48/48) of MSSA and MRSA were resistant to cefuroxime. Majority of MRSA (69.7%) isolates have shown sensitivity to cefepime whereas only 15.1% of MRSA were sensitive to cephalexin. In comparison, an equal proportion of isolates of MSSA (93.3%) was sensitive to both cefepime and cephalexin. Out of all, the least percentage of MSSA (86.6%) was sensitive to cefotaxime. Conclusions: Cefuroxime cannot be used as an antibiotic to treat S. aureus related infections. Majority of clinical isolates of S. aureus were methicillin resistant. As an empirical treatment, infections associated with MSSA may be treated with cefotaxime, cephalexin, cefepime and cefpodoxime except cefuroxime and those associated with MRSA may be treated with cefepime.

Awareness and Practice of Adherence to COVID-19 Preventive Behaviours of Patients with Cancer at National Cancer Institute, Sri Lanka

2024-10-15T10:35:05Z

Awareness and Practice of Adherence to COVID-19 Preventive Behaviours of Patients with Cancer at National Cancer Institute, Sri Lanka Madurangi, D.M.T.; Wijesekara, T.D.; Herath, H.M.I.K.K.; Darshani, K.D.C.; Mendis, W.I.; Nisansala, M.W.N.; Senarath, N.S.A.S.N. Background: COVID-19 is a global pandemic and strict preventive measures were introduced with the rapid spread of infection. The risk of infection is high among patients with cancers due to low immunity and disease manifestation. Adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures is vital to reduce complications and improve the survival rate of patients with cancer. Objectives: To assess awareness and practice of adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviours among patients with cancers at the National Cancer Institute, Sri Lanka. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among randomly selected 422 adult patients with cancers attending the National Cancer Institute, Sri Lanka for treatment. Data were collected using a pre-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaire based on demographic data, awareness, and practice of adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Results: Mean (SD) age of participants is 50.2 (15.5) years. The majority (75.6%) were female, Sinhalese (79.1%), and educated above the G.C.E. A/L (45.0%). Highly prevalent cancer types in the sample were breast (24.2%), gastrointestinal (17.5%), head and neck (13.7%) and lung (8.1%) cancers and 32.5% represent 1st stage of cancer. Chemotherapy (42.2%), radiotherapy (23.5%) and surgery 73 (17.3%) were the main treatment methods. The majority (98.1%) shows a good level of awareness and practice (77.3%) of adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviours. While the level of awareness was associated with gender (p=0.011) and types of cancer (p<0.001), the level of practice was associated with gender (p=0.021), marital status (p=0.003), religion (p<0.001), nationality (p=0.002), education level (p<0.001), stage of cancer (p=0.035), and treatment method (p=0.003). Conclusions: Awareness and practice of adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviours are satisfactory among patients with cancers. Strategies need to be taken to continue to maintain safe behaviour to minimize the risk of getting coronavirus infection.

Online Learning in the New-normal: Perspective of Undergraduates of Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ruhuna

2024-10-29T10:36:02Z

Online Learning in the New-normal: Perspective of Undergraduates of Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ruhuna Silva, S.M.D.U.; Subasinghe, H.W.A.S.; Pathiraja, V.M.; Prasadi, D.G.P. Background: Most of Sri Lankan universities started practicing online education, with the emergence of COVID-19. Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ruhuna (FAHS, UOR) has adopted LMS and Zoom technology as online teaching platforms since mid-2020 in order to continue the education program during the pandemic. Objectives: To assess the views of undergraduates of FAHS, UOR on lectures and practical sessions conducted via different forms of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Data were gathered from a convenient sample of undergraduates of FAHS, UOR during the 3rd wave of the COVID-19 epidemic. The questionnaire focused on demographic data, student satisfaction in online teaching and practical, work-based training and clinical attachments, mentoring and financial circumstances during the pandemic. The questionnaire was distributed among all the undergraduates of FAHS, UOR via a google form and voluntary respondents were included to the study. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26.0. Data on student satisfaction in online teaching and practical classes are presented in this abstract. Results: Among the participants (n=238) 56.3% were Nursing undergraduates while Pharmacy and Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) were 23.9% and 19.7%, respectively. The majority of the students preferred onsite lectures (86%) and practical classes (86%) compared to online platforms. Regarding online lecturing, 73% preferred live lecturing with switched on lecturer’s camera and satisfaction reduced when cameras are turned off (60%). Only 35% preferred lecture recordings without conducting a live online lecture. Health science undergraduate satisfaction on online practical classes was comparatively low; Online demonstration of practical with turned on lecturer’s camera-60%, simulated laboratory method-42%, sending video recording of the practical without live demonstrations-40%. Approximately 64% of Nursing undergraduates followed by 57% of MLS and 52% of Pharmacy undergraduates were satisfied with online practical classes with turned on lecturer’s camera. Around 30% of female undergraduates and 45% of male undergraduates were satisfied in video recordings. Conclusions: Majority of students preferred the live delivery of online lectures with switched on cameras than the passive delivery. However, their preference for online practical sessions were low. These observations will be helpful to improve the quality of teaching activities conducted via online modes in future for health science undergraduates.