scholarly journals Bacterial Contamination in Health Care Centers: Differences between Urban and Rural Settings

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 450
Author(s):  
Ana Monteiro ◽  
Beatriz Almeida ◽  
Inês Paciência ◽  
João Cavaleiro Rufo ◽  
Edna Ribeiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Bacterial Contamination ◽  
Bacterial Load ◽  
Contamination Level ◽  
Waiting Room ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Airborne Contamination ◽  
Primary Health Care Centers ◽  
Health Care Centers

This study aims to assess the airborne bioburden of rural and urban Portuguese Primary Health Care Centers (PHCC) using active and passive sampling methods and identify the potential differences in airborne microbiota between both environments. The highest total aerobic mesophilic bacterial load in indoor air were found in the Vaccination Room (448 CFU.m−3) in the Rural PHCC and in the Waiting Room (420 CFU.m−3) for Urban PHCC. The total coliforms contamination level in indoor air was detected only in the Cleaning Supplies Room (4 CFU.m−3) in the Urban PHCC. The most frequent bacteria genera identified was Micrococcus (21% Rural PHCC; 31% Urban PHCC). The surface samples showed a highest total aerobic mesophilic bacterial contamination in the Treatment Room (86 × 103 CFU.m−2) from the Rural PHCC and in the Front Office (200 × 103 CFU.m−2) from the Urban PHCC. The electrostatic dust cloth (EDC) samples showed a highest bacterial load in the Urban PHCC. Total aerobic mesophilic bacterial load in settled dust and in the Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) filter samples in the Urban PHCC (8 CFU.g−1 and 6 × 103 CFU.m−2) presented higher values compared with the Rural PHCC (1 CFU.g−1 and 2.5 × 103 CFU.m−2). Urban PHCC presented higher bacterial airborne contamination compared with the Rural PHCC for the majority of sampling sites, and when compared with the indoor air quality (IAQ) Portuguese legislation it was the Rural PHCC in two sampling places who did not comply with the established criteria.

Antibiotics Prescription Patterns in Primary Health Care in Qatar – A Population based study from 2017 to 2018

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanan Khudadad ◽  
Lukman Thalib
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Respiratory System ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Antibiotics Resistance ◽  
Prescription Patterns ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Primary Health Care Centers ◽  
Health Care Centers

Background: Antibiotics are antimicrobial drugs used in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections. They played a pivotal role in achieving major advances in medicine and surgery (1). Yet, due to increased and inappropriate use of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance (AR) has become a growing public health problem. Information on antibiotic prescription patterns are vital in developing a constructive approach to deal with growing antibiotic resistance (2). The study aims to describe the population based antibiotic prescriptions among patients attending primary care centers in Qatar. Methodology: A population based observational study of all medications prescribed in the all Primary Health Care Centers during the period of 2017-2018 in Qatar. Records with all medication prescriptions were extracted and linked to medical diagnosis. Antibiotics prescriptions records were compared to non- antibiotics records using logistic regression model in identifying the potential predictors for antibiotic prescriptions. Results: A total of 11,069,439 medication prescriptions given over a period of two-years, we found about 12.1% (n= 726,667) antibiotics prescriptions were antibiotics, and 65% of antibiotics are prescribed and received by the patients at the first visits. Paracetamol (22.3%) was the first highest medication prescribed followed by antibiotics (12.1 %) and vitamin D2 (10.2 %). More than half of all antibiotics prescribed during the period of January 2017 to December 2018 were Penicillin (56.9%). We found that half of the antibiotics (49.3 %) have been prescribed for the respiratory system comparing to the other body system. We found that males were 29% more likely be given an antibiotic compared to females (OR=1.29, 95% CI= 1.24- 1.33). Implications: The study provides a baseline data to enable PHCC management to design effective intervention program to address the problem of antibiotics resistance. Furthermore, it will help the policymakers to comprehend the size of the issue and develop a system to manage the antibiotics therapy. Conclusion: Antibiotics was the second highest medication prescribed in the Primary Health Care Centers in Qatar after paracetamol and most of the patients received it at the first visit. Most of the prescriptions in Primary Health Care Centers in Qatar were for the respiratory system, and Penicillin was the highest class prescribed. Male visitors were prescribed antibiotics more than female visitors.

scholarly journals Herbal medicine use and its associated factors in the region of Sousse (Tunisia)

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Limam ◽  
J Sahli ◽  
I Khalfallah ◽  
M Mellouli ◽  
M Ghardallou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Medicine Use ◽  
Toxic Dose ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Primary Health Care Centers ◽  
Health Care Centers

Abstract Background Patients use medicinal plants as the first-line treatment for many chronic and acute medical conditions. The lack of access to conventional health care, historical, cultural and economic considerations contributes to the important use of these plants. The purpose was to identify medicinal plants used by primary Health Care Centers' visitors in the region of Sousse (Tunisia) and to assess its associated factors. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among Primary health care centers' visitors of the region of Sousse (Tunisia) in 2018. We randomly selected 18 primary health centers and 50 participants were chosen from each center. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire, filled through a direct interview with participants which explores: socio-demographic variables and medicinal plants' use (name of plants, symptoms, methods of preparation, routes of administration, plant source, tolerance and side effects). Results 900 persons were included with a female predominance (72.4%). The median age of participants was 48 years ranging from 18 to 93. 65.2% (n = 587) of them report using medicinal plants to heal. The most common sources of information were family (90.5%), beliefs and traditions (56.4%). Fifty-three (53) plants were used to treat different disorders. The most used plants are: verbena (81.6%), rosemary (53.3%), mint (52%) and thyme (45.1%). The most reported treated symptoms were: flu and gastro-intestinal disorders. Plants utilization was associated to: lower age, female gender, marital status, high level of education and social existence of protection coverage. Conclusions Plants use should be based on well-conducted scientific results specifying the mechanism of action of plants, the therapeutic and toxic dose through researches on local plants samples and extracts. Key messages It seems essential to train health professionals on herbal therapy during their studies and practice. The further step after this picture of the herbal medicine use in the Region of Sousse, is to evaluate the safety and the efficacy of their use.

scholarly journals Barriers Facing Primary Health Care Physicians When Dealing with Emergency Cases in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majed A. Aloufi ◽  
Marwan A. Bakarman
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Primary Health Care Centers ◽  
Primary Health Care Physicians ◽  
Health Care Centers

<p><strong>OBJECTIVES:</strong> To estimate the prevalence of emergency cases reporting to Primary Health Care centers (PHC), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and to explore the barriers facing PHC physicians when dealing with such emergency cases.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>METHODS:</strong> A cross-sectional analytic study, where all physicians working in the PHC of the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Jeddah; were invited to participate (n=247). The study period was from July 2013 till December 2013. Data were collected through two sources. 1- A self-administered questionnaire used to determine the physicians’ perceived competence when dealing with emergency cases. 2- A structured observation sheet used to evaluate availability of equipment, drugs, ambulances and other supporting facilities required to deal with emergency cases.</p><p><strong>RESULTS:</strong> The response rate was 83.4%. The physicians’ age ranged between 25 and 60 years with a mean ±SD of 34.4±7.5 years. Majority of them (83.5%) did not attend ATLS courses at all whereas 60.7% never attended ACLS courses. The majority (97.1%) had however attended BLS courses. Physicians in the age group 36-45 years, non-Saudi, those who had SBFM, those who reported experience in working in emergency departments and physicians who reported more working years in PHCCs (&gt;5 years) had a significant higher score of perceived level of competence in performing emergency skill scale than others (P&lt;0.05). The prevalence of emergency cases attending PHC in Jeddah (2013) was 5.2%.</p><p><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> Emergency services at PHC in Jeddah are functioning reasonably well, but require fine tuning of services and an upgrade in their quality.</p>

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