A Prospective Study on the Efficiency of Ciprofloxacin in Combination with Chloramphenicol against Multiple Antibiotics Resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumonia</i>

Pneumonia is the single largest infectious cause of death in children worldwide and also a form of an acute respiratory infection that affects the lung. The purpose of the study was to develop a new approach to treat antibiotic-resistant K. pneumoniae infection. This study aimed in quest of a drug to combine with ciprofloxacin, a broad spectrum antibiotic frequently used to treat lung infections. Methodology: A total of 23 lung infection bacterial samples were collected and studied against 14 antibiotics of different classes. The disk diffusion method was performed to determine synergy screening, MIC value, and qualitative toxicity analysis of ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol combination. Results: After primary screening of antibiotic susceptibility, they were categorized into multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and pan drug-resistant (PDR) pathogens where 9 isolates were MDR, 5 were XDR and 3 isolates were PDR. Furthermore, they were trialed in combination ciprofloxacin along with other 7 drugs in disk diffusion to explore the synergistic effect. The combination of ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacin, ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol were found to be synergic. Then the MIC test was done for the combination ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol. When the MIC result was generated, the MIC of the respective combination was analyzed. Furthermore, the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) was calculated and in accordance with the results of the FIC index, ciprofloxacin-chloramphenicol combination has shown value 0.4510 which revealed a synergistic effect against multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Conclusion: Given these points, if the efficiency of this antibiotic can be accelerated from combination with other drugs, it might be lifesaving and cost effective as well.

Trends and Disparities in Breast Cancer Incidence-Mortality Rates of Black-White Women in the U.S.: 2000-2016

Introduction: Female Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. While the incidence rate is lower in Hispanic-Black, the mortality rate is higher compared to Non-Hispanic White. This study investigates the trends of incidence and mortality rate of breast cancer in the U.S.: 2000-2016. It further explores the racial disparities between these two races. Method: Data for four age groups (15 - 39 yrs, 40 - 64 yrs, 65 - 74 yrs, 75+ yrs) of Hispanic-Black and Non-Hispanic White women for breast cancer were extracted from SEER;age-adjusted rate (U.S. 2000 standard population). Primary trend analysis was done with PyCharm 2020.3.3. (line charts) and regression models to check any significant increase or decrease over the years were done with JoinPoint 4.8.0.1 (APC, 95% CI, significant p-value: <0.05). Result: Incidence rate is higher in Non-Hispanic White women, whereas mortality rate is higher in Hispanic Black. The 40 - 64 yrs age groups showed an increase in incidence rate for Hispanic Black women, whereas an decrease for White women. The least vulnerable group, 15 - 39 yrs age showed an increase in incidence rate in Non-Hispanic White women. The mortality rate was declining overall for both races. Conclusion: Disparities in oncologic healthcare, insurance system and socio-economic factors are possibly responsible for the higher mortality in Black American women. Improvements in these factors may reduce racial differences.