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Background: Ventilator‑associated pneumonia (VAP) is the commonest healthcare‑associated infection (HAI) in intensive care units (ICU), especially in trauma patients. VAP imposes a significant cost burden on the healthcare ecosystem. However, there are few data from the developing world. Methodology: We conducted this study in the trauma ICU (TICU) of PGIMER, Chandigarh, from October 2021 to December 2022. The incidence, incidence density, and average length of stay (ALOS) of both VAP and non‑VAP patients were established. The health system cost was assessed using a mixed (top‑down and bottom‑up) micro‑costing approach. We collected data for all the resources (direct and indirect costs) utilized during service delivery and estimated the health system cost per bed per day. Results: In this study, 494 patients were admitted to TICU, of which 484 received Mechanical Ventilation (MV) and 47 developed VAP. We included 41 and 44 patients with and without VAP. The VAP incidence rate was 9.7% and the VAP incidence density was 10.79/1000 MV days. The ALOS for VAP patients was 21 days, and for non‑ VAP patients was 8.2 days. Our study estimated a total health system cost of INR 25,927 per bed per day. The health system cost of treating a VAP patient was INR 544,467 compared to INR 207,416 for a non‑VAP patient. Conclusion: Treatment of VAP poses substantial costs for the health system and patients. There is a need to focus on preventing VAP, which would eventually reduce the length of stay and the resultant financial impact on the health system and the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: Munish. Ashat, Sonia. Puri, Amarjeet. Singh, Sandeep. Sarpal, Naveen. Goel, Vipin. Koushal Background: According to the Indian census 2011, India has the largest population of the elderly. Very few [...]

Byline: Munish. Ashat, Vikas. Bhatia, Sonia. Puri, Meenal. Thakare, Vipin. Koushal Objectives: To determine the occurrence of needle stick injuries among various categories of health care workers (HCWs), the causal [...]

Aim: Organ transplants have developed into a successful therapy to treat end-stage organ disease. Family members play a prominent role in decisions related to organ donation of brain-dead patients. Having different imaginations about brain death among the people may be highly influenced by culture, experience, and other sociodemographic variables. Thus, the study was undertaken to analyze the sociodemographic profile of the decision makers for organ donation in case of potential deceased donors and to determine the level of awareness and its relation with the sociodemographic variables. Methods: The study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital of North India from January 2016 to August 2017. The current research is a qualitative study with exploratory approach. Data were collected through interviews with 59 family members who gave consent to organ donation of their family members. A purposive sampling method was used. Results: The results showed that most (76.3%) of the decision makers were totally unaware of the concept of organ donation before they were counseled for the same. The results showed that awareness of organ donation was dependent on gender, education, and monthly income. Most of the decision makers had only primary education. Although they were initially not aware about the concept, their decision-making was not influenced by the level of education. Majority (90%) of the females were unaware about the organ donation, but eventually consented for the cause. Conclusion: The scope of mass education and awareness can be expanded to further strengthen the program and improve the outreach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the onset of 21st century, organ donation (OD) has taken a big stride, still waiting for organ transplants is higher than its availability. Donating a life after one's death to someone you even do not know is one of the noble humanity causes. In Indian scenario, with the inception of Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, multiple active initiatives were undertaken time to time for promoting OD; similarly, green corridors have also come in a big way for transfer of organs for interinstitutional transplantation. The institute undertook its first green corridor for OD in 2015 when liver was sent to one of the hospitals, and till date, 25 green corridors have been established where 27 organs have been shared with other institutes nationwide besides intrainstitute transplantations. Although this noble cause has taken its initial steps, still, innovations, and opportunities for promoting OD should be explored in a continuum for foreseeable better future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuberculosis is still one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity. Besides clinical impact, the disease affects the quality of life (QOL) too. With the rise of 21st century, multi-drug-resistant TB (MDR TB) has risen as a significant public health problem due to emergence of resistance to anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT) drugs. This study was planned to analyze the impact of MDRTB on QOL. It was a six month analysis, with a sample size of 60 cases each of MDRTB and PTB. It was based on a pre-designed, pre-tested questionnaire using WHOQOL BREF scale. Out of each group, 38 (63.33%) and 36 (60.0%) were in the 21- 40 years of age groups, more than 60% married and were residing in the urban/urban slums. It was found that QoL of MDRTB patients was worse than PTB counterparts. The psychological and environmental domains (MDRTB vs. PTB 17.46 vs. 15.23 and 22.00 vs 18.91) were more affected as compared to physical and social domains (19.03 vs 20.05 and 7.88 vs 9.61) in MDRTB and PTB. Financially, MDRTB patients were worst suffers as compared to PTB as former were not being covered under any program, while both groups are affected socially due to social stigma attached with the disease. Thus, there is a need to design an applicable, reliable measure to better address the quality issues methodologically. This would further enable the health care professionals and management to devise relevant interventions to improve the quality of the patients, as well as the programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Influenza virus is a common human pathogen that has caused serious respiratory illness and death over the past century. In April 2009, a new strain of Influenza virus A H1N1, commonly referred to as "swine flu," began to spread in several countries around the world, and India confirmed its first case on 16 May 16 2009. Aim: To study the clinical and epidemiological profile of Influenza A H1N1 cases at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh. Materials and Methods: Clinical epidemiological characteristics of Influenza A H1N1 cases from May 2009 to April 2010 were retrospectively, descriptively analyzed using data from the Influenza A H1N1 screening center and isolation ward at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh. Data were Analyzed using MS Excel software. Results: At GMCH, till April 2010, a total of 4379 patients were screened for Influenza A H1N1, of which 365 patients were tested. The most common symptoms were fever (87.6%), cough (49.77%), sore throat (27%) and breathlessness (23.9%). The most common presentation (42.30%) of Influenza A H1N1 cases was fever and cold-like features, not cough. 29.58% (108) of the tested patients were found to be positive for the disease. Maximum cases were detected in the month of December, and the patients less than 40 years of age accounted for 81.4% (44 cases) of the cases. Influenza A H1N1 resulted in death of 54.9% (28) of the admitted cases, of which 46% (12) deaths occurred within 48 h of admission. Conclusion: On the basis of these findings, it can be safely hypothesized that prevalence of Influenza A H1N1 is high in the younger population, and fever, cough and sore throat are the most common symptoms with which the patients usually present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Namaste" (or "Namaskar" or "Namaskaram") is a common cultural verbal salutation practiced, primarily in Indian subcontinent, since ages. The term "Namaste" has been derived from two Sanskrit words; "namah" meaning "bow", "obeisance", "adoration" or "reverential salutation" and "te" connotes "to you". Worldwide leaders as well as Proponents of the "Namaste" greeting have shown a great urge to Indian "Namaste"; one of the best way to keep coronavirus at bay in the present scenario. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses a study related to the compliance rate and improvement measures for hand hygiene (HH) in health care facilities. It informs about the launch of the Global Patient Safety Challenge by the World Health Organization. It also mentions the requirement of robust surveillance system, infection control team and proper staff for patient care services in health care organizations.

Background & objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a major public health emergency affecting the healthcare services all over the world. It is essential to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 in different parts of our country. This study highlights clinical experience in managing patients with COVID-19 at a tertiary care centre in northern India. Methods: Clinical characteristics and outcomes of consecutive adults patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital at Chandigarh, India, from April 1 to May 25, 2020 were studied. The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on throat and/or nasopharyngeal swabs. All patients were managed according to the institute's consensus protocol and in accordance with Indian Council of Medical Research guidelines. Results: During the study period, 114 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were admitted. The history of contact with COVID-19-affected individuals was available in 75 (65.8%) patients. The median age of the patients was 33.5 yr (13-79 yr), and there were 66 (58%) males. Of the total enrolled patients, 48 (42%) were symptomatic. The common presenting complaints were fever (37, 77%), cough (26, 54%) and shortness of breath (10, 20.8%). Nineteen (17%) patients had hypoxia (SpO2<94%) at presentation and 36 (31%) had tachypnoea (RR >24). Thirty four (29.8%) patients had an accompanying comorbid illness. Age more than 60 yr and presence of diabetes and hypertension were significantly associated with severe COVID-19 disease. Admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) was needed in 18 patients (52%), with three (2.6%) patients requiring assisted ventilation. Mortality of 2.6 per cent (3 patients) was observed. Interpretation & conclusions: Majority of the patients with COVID-19 infection presenting to our hospital were young and asymptomatic. Fever was noted only in three-fourth of the patients and respiratory symptoms in half of them. Patients with comorbidities were more vulnerable to complications. Triaged classification of patients and protocol-based treatment resulted in good outcomes and low case fatality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research on the presence of the pathogen Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) in patients with septicaemic non-cystic fibrosis (CF) in tertiary care hospitals in north India. BCC isolates were identified using standard phenotypic and a molecular recA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. The non-CF BCC isolates showed susceptibility to the drug ceftazidime. The study found that the most prevalent BCC species among the non-CF patients was Burkholderia cenocepacia.