Search

Antibiotic surveillance initiatives are limited in resource-constrained settings. In the present study, a quantitative comparison of antibiotic use rates for suspected infections in 2 hospitals in India was performed using the "focus of infection" approach to identify targets for quality improvement in antibiotic prescription patterns in hospitalized patients. Methods: This observational study was carried out in one teaching and one nonteaching hospital. All the patients with suspected bacterial etiology were included. Data on the prescribed antibiotics and the focus of infection were prospectively collected using a structured questionnaire. Each diagnosis was further reviewed and confirmed by an independent consultant. The prescribed antibiotics were coded according to the World Health Organization Anatomic Therapeutic Classification (ATC) index with the defined daily dose (DDD) methodology. Focus-specific DDDs were calculated per hundred patient days (DDD/HPD). Results: A total of 6026 patients were included from 72 participating physicians out of available 75 physicians. Overall antibiotic prescribing was higher by 5 percentage points in the teaching hospital (95%) than in the nonteaching hospital (90%). Quinolones (ciprofloxacin constituting 86% of DDD/HPD) were the highest prescribed class in the teaching hospital, and third-generation cephalosporins (with ceftriaxone and ceftriaxone/sulbactam constituting 40% and 28% of the DDD/ HPD, respectively), in the nonteaching hospital. The targets identified for improvement were the following: longer than recommended duration of prophylaxis and lack of distinction between prophylaxis and therapy among surgical patients; irrational antibiotic prescribing in gastroenteritis; overuse of quinolones and lack of use of penicillin in pneumonia; overuse of quinolones and lack of use of doxycycline and macrolides in genital infections; and overreliance on antibiotics for treating skin and soft tissue infections. Conclusions: Providing a quantitative comparison of antibiotic use rates for suspected infections, using the "focus of infection" approach along with the ATC/DDD methodology, appears appropriate for identifying targets for quality improvement with regards to antibiotic prescribing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allelopathic influence of Z. armatum was tested on some important winter field crops (T. aestitum, H. vulgare, B. compastris, and L. culminaris) of Garhwal Himalaya region, using different concentrations of leaf, bark, and fruit pulp aqueous extracts. Significant effects of these bioassays were noticed on germination and growth of all the test crops. Among all the tested crops, B. compastris followed by T. aestivum were found to be most sensitive, while H. vulgare and L. culminaris were the least sensitive in terms of germination. On the other hand, increased concentrations (5 and 10%) of leaf, bark, and fruit pulp aqueous extracts considerably reduced the radicle and plumule growth of all the test crops as compared with control. It is suggested that H. vulgare and L. culminaris may be cultivated in proximity of Z. armatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lantana camara is a common wild shrubby ornamental and hedge plant growing from plains to an elevation in surrounding forest of Chhattisgarh. Lantana with red flowered are thought to be the most toxic but some white/ pink flowered varieties can also be highly toxic. Allelopathy is a complex ecological process and biological phenomenon that depends upon accumulation and decay of litter, soil characteristics and climate. The aim of present work to observed the allelochemical effect of Lantana on forest vegetations of Bilaspur Chhattisgarh which inhibit the plant diversity and displace the native vegetation. The present work was done in forest and waste land of Bilaspur Chhattisgarh. Lantana camara seed, fruit, stem and leaf parts are have strong allele-chemical effect. Allelopathic influences the growth, survival, and reproduction of other biological organisms. In dense thickets, lantana excludes native species through smothering and allelopathic effects (i.e. toxicity to other plants). It dominates under-storey's prolongs succession and reduces biodiversity. Lantana plays a role as a persistent weed and has the potential to block succession and displace native vegetation and reducing biodiversity by allelo- chemicals. Allele-chemical observations of Lantana inhibit the germination and growth of plants which grows surrounding lantana clumps. In present study will be discuss the Lantana camara play as allelopathic effect on the germination and growth of various plant species and can establish in natural ecosystems, open and bare areas etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]