Bacteriological Profile and Antibiogram of Acute Dacryocystitis in a Rural Tertiary Healthcare Centre, Maharashtra, India

BACKGROUND Dacryocystitis is one of the most frequent diseases of the efferent lacrimal system. It is the infection or inflammation of the lacrimal sac. This is usually because of nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Acute dacryocystitis can cause severe morbidity and rarely mortality in patients. This study wanted to identify the aerobic bacterial aetiology, and demonstrate the antibiogram of bacterial isolates of acute dacryocystitis. METHODS A retrospective record-based study was conducted in Rural Tertiary Healthcare Centre. Clinical Data of 89 patients was collected from medical records of 2014 to 2018 documents. Data of bacterial isolates and their antibiogram were retrieved from records in the Department of Microbiology. RESULTS The most common aerobic Gram-positive bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (29.8 %) and Coagulase Negative staphylococcus (23.3 %). The most common Gramnegative bacteria were pseudomonas spp. (19.4 %) and klebsiella spp. (12.9 %). CONCLUSIONS The knowledge of bacterial profile in different geographic region, different age group will help to develop and implement treatment protocol. KEY WORDS Acute Dacryocystitis, Bacterial Profile, Antibiogram

Willingness to Pay for Cancer Genetic Testing in a Tertiary Healthcare Centre

INTRODUCTION: Increasing use of predictive genetic testing to address hereditary cancer risk has been commonly assessed by cost sharing practices. Little is known about how demographics, knowledge, attitude and practices may influence these individuals’ willingness to pay for cancer genetic testing. The objective of this research was to determine factors associated with willingness to pay for cancer genetic testing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 175 respondents in the oncology and day care unit in one of tertiary healthcare centre. The respondents comprised cancer patients, their family members and the community. RESULTS: A total of 117 (66.9%) participants were willing to pay for cancer genetic testing. Ninety three (79.5%) of respondents were willing to pay from their own pocket with a mean of MYR1201.77 (SD976.72) and 95 (54.3%) respondents were willing to pay, shared with insurance. There were significant associations between willingness to pay with status of respondent as patients or family members or community, gender, race, educational level, income, knowledge and attitude. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to evaluate factors associated with willingness to pay not only among cancer patients but also their family members and the community. These findings reveal that majority of respondents believe there is valuable personal benefit based on genetic risk information and they are willing to pay for it.

GIS Identifies Elderly Healthcare Centre Future Planning: A Case Study of Local Areas in Northeast of Thailand

Spatial density measures are an important tool for future healthcare planning, particularly in Northeast Thailand where the ageing population has rapidly increased for a decade. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship of geographic and elderly population density in Chiang Yuen district, Mahasarakham province, to ascertain suitable areas for elderly healthcare centres. The data of the elderly located in the villages were collected by the Global Position System (GPS) using Kernel density method to employ the analysis of population density, and GIS for healthcare mapping, and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) as multiple criteria decision-making tools. Factors were determined by using the overlay analysis method, where social, physical and economic factors were variables of interest that were used for the analysis of suitable areas for Elderly Healthcare Centres. The results revealed that the spatial density of the elderly population could be divided into four levels: Low density for the agriculture areas, medium density for agricultural areas including small villages. High density for the areas near communities and public area services and highest density for the centre of towns. The most suitable area was an area with many elderly inhabitants in the community, near transportation routes including main highways leading to other areas. In conclusion, the results confirmed that the density of elderly and proximity to both local stores and transport would make the lower part of Chiang Yuen Sub-district a suitable area to establish a healthcare centre for the elderly, therefore, the authorities and stakeholders should recognise this in planning.