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Introduction: Appropriate use of antibiotics is important for (a) Better therapeutic results (b) Saving costs (c) Minimize resistance to antibiotics. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study of pre- scriptions in a tertiary hospital and health center. Objective was to evaluate antibiotic usage in a teaching institute. Methodology: For a sample size of 220, 256 prescriptions from IPD and OPD, containing any antimicrobial, at the pharmacy and an- other 240 prescriptions from the peripheral Health Centre were collected over a fortnight in 2018. Prescriber identity was con- cealed and protected. Prescriptions were assessed by two inde- pendent raters based on the AMR National Guidelines on antibiot- ics. Rater 1 and Rater2 had fair agreement (quadratic kappa 0.3348, 95%CI 0.2207-0.4489). Data were compiled and analyzed on excel and EPI info. Results: Hospital pool yielded 203 medical and 53 surgical cases, of which 60% prescriptions were rated appropriate, 35% border- line and 5% un-acceptable. Health center data (n=240) showed 89% had no diagnosis. Amoxicillin+Clavulinic acid, ceftriaxone, azithromycin, Ofloxacin topped the hospital usage, while Amox+CA and Cefixime topped the health center usage. Conclusions: Hospital prescriptions nearly conformed to guide- lines, the Health center prescribing called for adherence to proto- cols. Cost –reducing options and minimizing resistance to higher antibiotics.

Introduction: Heavy school-bags and the musculo-skeletal complaints are common concerns across countries, but Indian rural studies are scant. This rural study was undertaken to explore school-bag weights, and association of bag-weights with reported pain/discomfort. Methods: This is a cross sectional study covering 261 students (m 128, f 131) in 8th and 9th divisions in 3 rural schools in Nashik district. Standard procedures were used for anthropometry and school-bag weights. Reported musculo-skeletal complaints were ascertained with structured questionnaire. Teachers were interviewed. Excel and Epi-Info were used for analysis. Results: Average schoolbag-weight was 3.7kg.47% schoolbags weighed>10% bodyweight. More girls than boys had heavy bag-packs and musculoskeletal complaints. Heavy school-bags and musculoskeletal complaints showed association with Chi-square; but a t-test showed no association of musculoskeletal complaints with product of bag-weight and walking-duration; while domestic /farm work were confounding variables. Teachers were aware of bag-weight guidelines and health issues but not about the problem in their schools. Conclusions: Despite awareness, these rural schools had sizeable proportion of heavy bags. Hence counseling of stakeholders and reworking classroom schedules are necessary for safety limits.