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BackgroundTyphoid fever is endemic in the urban Kathmandu Valley of Nepal; however, there have been no population-based studies of typhoid outside of this community in the past 3 decades. Whether typhoid immunization should be prioritized in periurban and rural communities has been unclear.MethodsWe performed population-based surveillance for enteric fever in 1 urban catchment (Kathmandu) and 1 periurban and rural catchment (Kavrepalanchok) as part of the Surveillance for Enteric Fever in Asia Project (SEAP). We recruited individuals presenting to outpatient and emergency departments at 2 study hospitals with suspected enteric fever and performed blood cultures. Additionally, we conducted a household survey in each catchment area to characterize care seeking for febrile illness. We evaluated spatial heterogeneity in febrile illness, care seeking, and enteric fever incidence.ResultsBetween September 2016 and September 2019, we enrolled 5736 participants with suspected enteric fever at 2 study hospitals. Among these, 304 (5.3%) were culture positive for Salmonella Typhi (249 [81.9%]) or Paratyphi A (55 [18.1%]). Adjusted typhoid incidence in Kathmandu was 484 per 100 000 person-years and in Kavrepalanchok was 615 per 100 000 person-years. While all geographic areas for which estimates could be made had incidence >200 per 100 000 person-years, we observed spatial heterogeneity with up to 10-fold variation in incidence between communities.ConclusionsIn urban, periurban, and rural communities in and around Kathmandu, we measured a high but heterogenous incidence of typhoid. These findings provide some support for the introduction of conjugate vaccines in Nepal, including outside urban areas, alongside other measures to prevent enteric fever.

Introduction: Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Serum lactate is useful in predicting the prognosis of critically ill patients. Elevated blood lactate levels as well as delayed clearance have been linked to higher mortality in sepsis. Shock index is a simple and effective bedside assessment means of gauging the degree of shock and is an important predictor of identifying high-risk patients. Monitoring lactate levels may aid clinicians in understanding tissue perfusion and detecting unrecognized shock and making prompt therapy adjustments. This study aimed to find out the mean serum lactate levels in patients with sepsis presenting to the Department of Emergency Medicine of a tertiary care centre., Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care centre among the patient with sepsis presenting to the emergency department from 1 September 2022 to 30 November 2022. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee of a tertiary care centre (Reference number: 26082022/02). History taking and detailed examination were done. Blood was sent for serum lactate and other parameters as proforma was sent. The shock index was calculated. Convenience sampling was done. Point estimate and 95% confidence interval were calculated., Results: Among 53 sepsis patients, the mean serum lactate level in sepsis patients was 2.84+2.02 (male: 2.83+1.70 and female: 2.85+2.42)., Conclusions: The mean serum lactate level in patients with sepsis is similar as compared the studies done in similar settings., Keywords: emergencies; lactate; sepsis.

Introduction: Acute organophosphorus pesticide poisoning is widespread and the most common in many developing countries, including Nepal. Through the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, organophosphorus poisoning is characterised by the clinical picture of acute cholinergic crisis. Many researchers have shown increased levels of liver enzymes and decreased levels of serum cholinesterase in organophosphorus poisoning, however, very little work has been done in Nepal that studies the correlation between serum cholinesterase and liver enzymes in organophosphorus poisoning. The aim of the study is to find out the mean cholinesterase level among organophosphorus poisoning patients visiting the Emergency Department in a tertiary care centre., Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study done among 94 organophosphate poisoning cases visiting the emergency department of a tertiary care centre from August 2021 to August 2022 after obtaining approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 04102021/06). Convenience sampling was done. Blood workups were done for cholinesterase and liver function tests. Point estimate and 90% Confidence Interval were calculated., Results: The mean cholinesterase level among organophosphorus poisoning patients was 1978.82±1878.22 (1660.17-2297.47, 90% Confidence Interval)., Conclusions: The mean cholinesterase level among organophosphorus poisoning patients was similar when compared to other studies done in similar settings., Keywords: cholinesterases; liver function tests; organophosphorus poisoning.

Introduction: Cell block technique is an adjunct to conventional smears in the diagnosis of malignancy in effusion fluid. It aims at retrieving cellular material and concentrating cells in a small field, with preservation of cytomorphologic details. The objective of this study was to find the proportion of malignant serous effusions using cell block technique among hospital in-patients in a tertiary care centre., Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among patients visiting a tertiary care centre between 1st June 2020 to 30th November 2020. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 305202001). Using a convenience sampling method, 96 hospital in-patients were included in the study. Serous effusions were evaluated by conventional smears and cell block sections. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 23. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation., Results: Among 96 hospital in-patients, 15 (15.62%) (8.35-22.88 at 95% Confidence Interval) were diagnosed as positive for malignancy by using cell block technique. By conventional smears, 80 (83.33%) cases turned out to be negative for malignancy, 13 (13.54%) were positive for malignancy and three (3.12%) were suspicious for malignancy. Of the three (3.12%) cases suspected for malignancy, two turned out to be positive for malignancy and one was found to be negative for malignancy on cell block technology., Conclusions: The proportion of malignant serous effusions was similar in comparison to other studies. Cell block technique could be routinely incorporated along with conventional smears for a more accurate diagnosis of malignancy on serous effusion.

Introduction: Abnormal uterine bleeding is the most common presenting complaint in the perimenopausal age group. Endometrial biopsy obtained by dilatation and curettage is the preferred modality of investigation to determine the causative pathology of abnormal uterine bleeding. The objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of the benign histopathological findings in perimenopausal women presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding., Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients between 1st June 2020 to 30th September 2021. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee of Kathmandu Medical College (reference number: 305202002). Using the convenience sampling method, 96 cases of endometrial biopsies were studied under light microscopy. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version23.0. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data., Results: Among the 96 specimens, the prevalence of benign findings was 93 (96.9%) (93-100 at 95% Confidence Interval). Among them, the commonest benign histopathologic spectrum was hormonal imbalance pattern in 40 (41.7%) followed by normal menstrual pattern 35 (36.5%). Five (5.2%) cases showed chronic endometritis. Six (6.2%) cases of endometrial hyperplasia without atypia were identified. Three (3.1%) cases showed endometrial atrophy. Four (4.1%) cases showed endometrial polyp., Conclusions: The prevalence of benign histopathological findings among endometrial biopsies in the study was similar to other studies.

Introduction: Increasing antibiotic resistance has created a global public health threat worldwide. Acinetobacter species is one of the important pathogenic organisms in the hospital setting due to its ability to persist in the hospital environment for long. Its resistance to commonly used antibiotics can prolong hospital stay, increase financial burden, and increase morbidity and mortality. This study aims to find the prevalence of extensive drug resistant Acinetobacter species in the sputum sample of Intensive Care Unit patients admitted in a tertiary care center., Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care center among the hospital records from May 2017 to May 2021, after ethical approval (Reference number: 2104202101). All the Intensive Care Unit patients with isolated acinetobacter species in their sputum samples within the past four years were collected and Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25 was used for analysis. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data., Results: Of the total 409, 196 (47.9%) (95% Confidence Interval= 43.06-52.74) of Acinetobacter species in the sputum sample had extensive drug resistance. Of these, 193 (98.5%) and 1 (0.5%) of the extensive drug resistant Acinetobacter species were resistant to carbapenem and polymyxin respectively., Conclusions: Prevalence of extensive drug resistant acinetobacter was found higher compared to other studies.

Introduction: Skin diseases are much common in developing countries. The spectrum varies according to geographic distribution, gender, age, and coexisting disorder. We conducted this study to find out the prevalence of different skin lesions and to evaluate their frequency and site of distribution., Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done in the pathology department of Kathmandu Medical college from June 2019 to November 2019 after ethical clearance. The skin biopsies were processed, sectioned and stained with Haematoxylin and eosin and evaluated. A convenience sampling method was used. Data was collected and entry was done in Statistical Packages for Social Services version 20.0, point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data., Results: Among 133 skin biopsies examined, noninfectious vesicobullous and vesicopustular disease were found in 42 (46.6%) cases followed by microbial disease in 22 (24.5%) and noninfectious erythematous papular and squamous disease in 21 (23.4%) cases. Spongiotic dermatitis was the most common vesicobullous disease seen in 26 (28.9%) cases. Leprosy was the commonest microbial disease found in 7 (7.8%) cases. The commonest noninfectious erythematous papular and squamous disease was erythema dyschromicum perstans seen in 7 (7.8%) cases. The commonest neoplastic lesion was keratinocytic tumor seen in 12 (32.5%) cases. The commonest tumor of the skin was intradermal nevus seen in 6 (16.3%) cases., Conclusions: Spongiotic dermatitis is a predominating non-neoplastic and overall skin lesion which was similar to the other studies done. Histopathological examination is the gold standard for the proper diagnosis as histomorphological features distinguish various skin lesions.

Background: Gallstone disease known as cholelithiasis is the most common digestive surgical disorder and account for an important part of health care expenditure. Attempt was made to analyse the gallstone for typing depending upon the composition., Aims & Objectives: The main objective of this study was to see the prevalence of different types of gallstone in Nepal and to correlate them with the clinical findings., Materials & Methods: Gallstones of 80 different patients who underwent cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis were collected from 20th January 2005 to 16th May 2006 in Department of Pathology, Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital. Detailed history was taken. Stones were analyzed with chemical and enzymatic methods using clinical spectrophotometer., Results & Conclusion: The most commonly involved age group for cholelithiasis (32.5%) is found to be 30-39 years with a female predominance (M: F=1:3.2). Cholelithiasis was found more commonly among non-vegetarian with the vegetarian: non-vegetarian ratio 1:9. Mixed type stone was found to be the most common type of stone comprising 78.75%, followed by cholesterol stone 12.5%, Brown pigment stone 7.5% and Black pigment stone 1.25%.