Browsing by Author "Pokhrel, S"
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Publication A Point Prevalence Study of the Use of Antibiotics in Six Tertiary Care Hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal(Kathmandu University, 2022) Jha, N; Thapa, B; Pathak, SB; Pandey, A; Pokhrel, S; Shankar, PR; Bhandary, S; Mudvari, A; Dangal, GABSTRACT Background Point prevalence survey (PPS) on antibiotic use developed by the WHO has already been used in many hospitals globally. Objective To obtain information on antibiotic prescribtion using point prevalence survey methodology in six private hospitals in the Kathmandu valley. Method This descriptive cross-sectional study was completed during 20th July to 28th July 2021 using point prevalence survey methodology. The study was conducted among inpatients admitted at or before 8:00 AM on the day of survey in various wards. Data was presented as frequencies and percentages. Result Maximum number of patients were above 60 years [34 (18.7%)]. Number of male and female participants were equal [91 (50%)]. Only one antibiotic was used in 81 patients (44.5%) followed by two antibiotics in 71 (39%) patients. Duration of prophylactic antibiotic use was one day in 66 (63.7%) patients. Blood, urine, sputum, and wound swabs were the common samples for culture. Cultures were positive for 17 (24.7%) samples. The common organisms isolated were E. Coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Ceftriaxone was the most used antibiotic. Drug and therapeutics, infection control committee and pharmacovigilance activities were present in 3/6 (50%) study sites. Antimicrobial stewardship was present in 3/6 (50%) and microbiological services was present in all hospitals. Antibiotic formulary and antibiotic guideline were present in 4/6 sites and facilities to audit or review surgical antibiotic prophylaxis choice in 2/6 (33.3%) sites, facility to monitor antibiotic use in 4/6 (66.6%) and cumulative antibiotic susceptibility reports in 2/6 (33.3%) study sites. Conclusion Ceftriaxone was the most used antibiotic. E. Coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia were the commonly isolated organisms. Not all parameters for infrastructure, policy and practice and monitoring and feedback were present at the study sites. KEY WORDS Antibiotics, Point prevalence survey, Private hospitals, Tertiary care centersPublication Acute Kidney Injury in Neonates with Perinatal Asphyxia in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Nepal: a cross-sectional study(Kathmandu University, 2025) Gautam, S; Gautam, P; Chaudhary, A; Dahal, A; Manandhar, A; Giri, P; Dulal, A; Pokhrel, SABSTRACT Background Renal involvement is the most common form of systemic complication in neonates with perinatal asphyxia. Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) can be oliguric or non oliguric. There is no consensus on the definition of acute kidney injury in neonates, which makes early diagnosis and management difficult. Acute kidney injury leads to significant morbidity and mortality in neonates. Objective Current study aims to explore the prevalence of Acute Kidney Injury in Neonates with perinatal asphyxia and its relation to the severity of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). Method A single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study was carried out to analyze the cases of perinatal asphyxia in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Neonatal Ward (NNW) for a period of three years (September 2020 to August 2023) in a tertiary care center. The study analyzed 195 neonates with perinatal asphyxia and Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Descriptive statistics(mean ± SD for continuous variables; percentages for categorical variables) and chi-square test (to compare categorical associations) were applied. The prevalence of acute kidney injury and its relation to grades of HIE were determined using a chi-square test. Result The prevalence of acute kidney injury among cases of perinatal asphyxia was 17.4%. The prevalence of acute kidney injury increased with an increase in the grading of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Acute kidney injury was predominant among males with a male-to-female ratio being 3.2:1. Oliguric acute kidney injury was more common than non-oliguric acute kidney injury. 8.8% of cases had mortality, with the majority of cases being hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy grade II. The Chi- square test found a statistically significant association between hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy grades and acute kidney injury (p value=0.0113, i.e., p < 0.05) Conclusion Acute kidney injury remains one of the common complications of Perinatal Asphyxia (PA). There was a significant association between acute kidney injury cases and grades of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), with HIE II being the most common type. Screening for acute kidney injury in case of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy should be prioritized. KEY WORDS Acute kidney injury, Birth asphyxia, Oliguria, Perinatal asphyxiaPublication Elimination of visceral leishmaniasis in Nepal: Pipe-dreams and possibilities(Kathmandu University, 2006) Joshi, AB; Banjara, MR; Pokhrel, S; Jimba, M; Singhasivanon, P; Ashford, RWIntroduction: Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) re-emerged in the Indian subcontinent in the mid-1970s after an almost complete absence in the previous fifteen or so years. The disease was first noted in Nepal in 1978 and, since 1980, it has been reported regularly in increasing numbers. Elimination of visceral leishmaniasis by 2015 has been identified as regional priority program in the level of high political commitment. Objective: The objectives of this study are the comprehensive assessment of information related to VL on the basis of past research studies conducted in Nepal, and an assessment of the prospects of control measures. Materials and methods: This was time line comprehensive VL epidemiological assessment study based on the research conducted by main author during the past ten years. During the period the studies were conducted using cross sectional, case control and exploratory study design. The statistical analysis was done using qualitative and quantitative methods. Results: In our study in the visceral leishmaniasis endemic district, Siraha, in the population of 112,029, a total of 996 clinically suspected cases were reported (with fever of long duration and splenomegaly, with no malaria) during 1998-2002. In all, 283 subjects were found positive for visceral leishmaniasis by rK39 and 284 had positive bone marrow. There was no detectable difference in the density of Phlebotomus argentipes between high, and moderate incidence village development committees (VDC: the smallest administrative unit), but collections in the low incidence areas (in winter) were negative. P. argentipes was never numerous (maximum 4.4 females collected per man-hour), and was much less common than P. papatasi. Peaks of abundance were recorded in the March and September collections. We have found that the numbers of reported cases of visceral leishmaniasis in Nepalese villages was unaffected by indoor residual spray (IRS) indicated by parallel trends in case numbers by time series analysis in treated and untreated villages. A series of maps through ten years clearly showed that the infection can move rapidly between villages, and it is impossible to predict where transmission will occur from year to year. Conclusion: If maximum benefit in relation to cost is the goal, it may be preferable to put all possible efforts into active case detection (ACD) with free treatment. ACD should involve the network of Village Health Workers or Female Community Health Volunteers and the rK39 dipstick test at health centre level. Surveillance of disease and vector, communication for behavioural impacts and insecticide spraying should be important component of elimination program. If IRS is to be a part of the intervention, it is essential that it is carried out effectively, both in areas where the disease has been reported and in neighbouring areas. Integrated vector management need to be monitored for its application and effectiveness for VL elimination.Publication Knowledge and Practices of Child Protection among the School Health Nurses of Nepal(Kathmandu University, 2021) Chapgain, RH; Adhikari, S; Pandey, A; Sharma, S; Pokhrel, S; Devkota, N; Shrestha, NJ; Upadhaya, D; Acharay, J; Dharel, MABSTRACT Background Child protection is burning issues in developing countries including Nepal. Child protection is one of the key works of the school health nurses. Objective To find out about the existing knowledge and practices of child protection among the school health nurses. Method This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 130 school health nurses working in different schools throughout Nepal. The participants were selected using purposive sampling technique and were invited to participate via various online networks. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Duration of data collection was 20 December 2020 to 10 February 2021. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze and interpret the data. Result Among the 130 Participants, 88.5% belonged to less than 29 years age group and 67.7% had Proficiency Certificate Level in Nursing education. None of them has received training related to child protection recognition and response and 90.8% had work experience of less than 5 years. Eighty percent and 96.9% participants had knowledge regarding the meaning of child right and child abuse respectively. But 45.4% had knowledge on meaning of child neglect; 53.1% and 72.3% had the knowledge of physical abuse and noncontact sexual abuse respectively. Majority (86.9%) of the participants reported as relatives were the abuser and 63.8% replied as home is the common place for abuse. Similarly, 85.4% had received the information regarding child protection via television radio and newspaper. Only 36.1% has already been involved in child protection. The participants who went to local government (Palika), police and Non-government Organizations for coordination for child right issues were 9(19.1%), 7(14.8%) and 8(17.0%) respectively. Conclusion Most of the school health nurses are young without having experience of childhood abuse and received any child protection training before joining the job. They have good knowledge of child right, physical, sexual abuse except child neglect and existing legal arrangements. There is gap in knowledge and practice. KEY WORDS Child abuse, Knowledge, Practice, School health nursesPublication Mucinous Cystic Borderline Tumor of the Mesentery: A Case Report(Kathmandu University, 2015) Poudel, R; Acharya, A; Pokhrel, S; Adhikari, SKABSTRACT Mucinous cystic neoplasms are rare tumors of uncertain histogenesis. They arise from the ovaries, pancreas, and other intra-abdominal sites but more unusually from the mesentery. They can present with abdominal pain, distension, or a palpable mass but are commonly an incidental finding. We present a case of a 33 year old female who presented with complain of pain abdomen for one-year duration. On Physical examination there was a palpable lump in right lumbar region extending to right iliac fossa. CT scan of abdomen and pelvis suggested the mass to be a Mesenteric Cyst. Enucleation of the cyst was done and histopathology report revealed Mucinous Cystic borderline tumor of the Mesentery. KEYWORDS Borderline, cystic, mesentery, mucinous.Publication Successes rate of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy at KMC(Kathmandu University, 2010) Shrestha, S; Kafle, PK; Pokhrel, S; Maharjan, M; KC, ToranAbstract Background: Nasolacrimal duct obstruction is a common problem which can be corrected by dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). The gold standard treatment for this is DCR operation through an external approach. Development of endoscopic sinus surgery and endoscopic DCR performed through intranasal route is a major recent development in this field. Objectives: The aim of this study is to find out the success rate of endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy without silicon stent intubation within the period of six month following surgery. Materials and methods: A prospective study was done on 26 patients with obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct referred from eye out-patient department to ENT OPD during one year period from 2008 to 2009. All the cases had undergone endoscopic DCR operation which was regularly followed up for a period of six months. Postoperative patency of ostium was checked by sac syringing and endoscopic visualisation of ostium in the nasal cavity. The success of surgery was categorised as: complete cure, partial cure and no improvement depending upon symptomatic relief and clinical examination such as sac syringing and endoscopic examination following surgery. Result: In six months’ follow-up, 22 (84.5%) out of 26 patients had achieved the complete cure and 4 patients (15.5%) continued to have persistent epiphora. Conclusion: Endoscopic DCR is a beneficial procedure for nasolacrimal duct obstruction with no external scar on face and less bleeding. The success rate is as good as external DCR. Key words: Nasolacrimal duct, Epiphora, Rigid nasal endoscope, Endoscopic DacryocystorhinostomyPublication Thyroid Hormone Abnormalities and Associated Risk Factors among Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital(Kathmandu University, 2023) Shreewastav, RK; Dhungana, SP; Pokhrel, S; Jayshwal, R; Pandey, HABSTRACT Background Thyroid dysfunction and associated factors like age, sex, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking, family history of coronary artery disease and dyslipidemia contributes the risk for acute coronary syndrome. Objective To find out the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and associated risk factors among acute coronary syndrome patients at this tertiary care hospital in eastern Nepal. Method A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out prospectively among acute coronary syndrome patients at a tertiary care Hospital. Diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome was made based on the medical history, Electrocardiogram abnormalities, and cardiac markers. Thyroid function test and estimation of other blood parameters were done in the blood of the patients. Other relevant information and medical history of the patients were collected by using proforma. Result Out of 186 total acute coronary syndrome patients, 127 (68.28%) were male and mean age of all patients was 60.0 ± 13.7 years. Thyroid dysfunction was observed in 52 (27.95%) patients, out of that subclinical hypothyroidism was mostly seen in 30 (16.12%) patients followed by hypothyroidism in 13 (6.98%). The number of patients with hyperthyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism was 6 (3.23%) and 3 (1.62%) respectively. Associated factors like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, family history of coronary artery disease and dyslipidemia was observed in 80 (43.01%), 42 (22.58%), 83 (44.62%), 11 (5.91%) and 79 (42.47%) patients. Conclusion Acute coronary syndrome was predominantly seen in male and subclinical hypothyroidism was a major thyroid dysfunction observed among the patients. Hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus and smoking was found to be associated in a proportion of patients with acute coronary syndrome. KEY WORDS Acute coronary syndrome, Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension, Risk factors, Thyroid function test