Compliance of Physicians with Standard Precautions of Handling Patients with Infectious Respiratory Disease

Background: Standard precautions (SPs) are the minimum infection prevention practices that aim to protect Health care workers (HCWs) including physicians and prevent them from transmitting the infections to their patients. Purpose: To assess the level of compliance of physicians with standard precautions of handling patients with infectious respiratory disease. Method: A cross sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted in two tertiary level hospitals named M Abdur Rahim Medical College and Hospital, Dinajpur, Bangladesh and Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital, Rajshahi, Bangladesh to assess the level of compliance of physicians with standard precautions. Purposive sampling technique was applied as per inclusion criteria and data was collected by face to face interview from 285 physicians. Statistical analysis of the results was done by SPSS and a p value less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Result: The study revealed that maximum physicians (76.5%) handling patients with infectious respiratory disease had a moderate level of compliance with standard precautions. 78.6% of the physicians had moderate level of awareness about standard precautions. Only 20.35% of the physicians had training on infection control. 94.4% of the respondents didn’t know the component of standard precaution and most of the physicians were not aware of the sequence of wearing and removing the different components of PPEs. Conclusion: The study result implies that with increased awareness, the compliance of the physicians with standard precautions increased. The main reasons of non-compliance with standard precautions were found to be lack of resources, lack of regular training and excess workload.

Anterior Chamber Depth Changes in Narrow Iridocorneal Angles after Phacoemulsification

Background: The burden of cataract and glaucoma has been increasing. Primary angle closure occurs as a result of crowded anterior segment anatomy causing appositional contact between peripheral iris and trabecular meshwork. Lens extraction has been proposed as a method of deepening anterior chamber and managing intraocular pressure. Purpose: To assess changes in anterior chamber depth after phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation in narrow angle eyes. Design: Prospective controlled trial (before-after) study. Method: The study was conducted from March 2015 to August 2017 among the patients of department of Ophthalmology of BSMMU who were diagnosed as cataract with narrow angles. Anterior chamber angle grading of 2 or less (Shaffer grading) in 3 or more quadrants was considered narrow angle (NA). The purposive type sampling technique was applied to collect sample from the study population, as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. Complete clinical evaluation including history, physical examination, relevant ocular examinations and systemic examinations were performed. In this prospective study, subjects underwent phacoemulsification with foldable lens implantation. A scan ultrasonography was performed preoperatively and 10th and 30th postoperative days of surgery. Results: Thirty eyes of 29 patients included in the study, male: female ratio was 1:1, with an overall mean age of 62.03 ± 8.95 years. The mean preoperative central ACD was 2.95 ± 0.35 mm. At 10th and 30th POD mean central ACD were 3.94 ± 0.32, and 3.92 ± 0.28 mm respectively. Mean of increase in central ACD at final follow-up was 0.96 mm (p Conclusion: Phacoemulsification with posterior chamber in bag lens implantation can deepen the anterior chamber depth in patients with narrow angles. Based on these findings, it is concluded that phacoemulsification with foldable intraocular lens implantation is an effective tool in deepening the anterior chamber.

Association of Vitamin D Deficiency with Diabetic Retinopathy in Young People with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Diabetic retinopathy is among the most common diabetic complications, and is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. Recent studies have linked vitamin D to the pathogenesis of diabetes and there is growing evidence that vitamin D can interfere with the mechanisms involved in diabetes and its complications. Despite improvements in treatment, diabetic retinopathy remains a significant complication of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Identification of early treatable predictors of diabetic retinopathy such as vitamin D deficiency, may allow more aggressive management of those at high risk. Purpose: To assess the association of vitamin D deficiency with diabetic retinopathy in young people with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Design: Observational study with case control design. Method: 60 young people with type 1 diabetes aged between 11 to 24 years were included in this study. Among them, 30-young people have diabetic retinopathy and 30-young people do not have diabetic retinopathy. Purposive sampling technique was applied as per inclusion criteria. Statistical analysis of the results was done by using computer-based software, SPSS version 26. P value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Vitamin D deficiency was present in 83% of the young people with diabetic retinopathy and in 53% without diabetic retinopathy. The mean vitamin D level in young people with and without diabetic retinopathy was 17.38 ± 3.77 ng/ml and 20.15 ± 5.06 ng/ml respectively and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.019). Vitamin D deficiency was increased with the severity of diabetic retinopathy. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression showed vitamin D deficiency was independently associated with diabetic retinopathy with a crude odds ratio of 5.69 with a p value of 0.008 and adjusted odds ratio of 16.08 with a p value of 0.002 respectively. Conclusion: Result of the study revealed that vitamin D deficiency was strongly associated with diabetic retinopathy in young people with type 1 diabetes mellitus.