Background:Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are common human pathogens that cause a wide spectrum of infections. Antimicrobial resistance is a basic obstacle in the management of these infections which has different patterns in various regions.Objectives:In this study, the antibiotic resistance patterns and risk factors for multidrug-resistant (MDR) E. coli and K. pneumoniae were determined.Patients and Methods:In this cross-sectional study, a total of 250 isolates (134 E. coli and 116 K. pneumoniae) were collected and antimicrobial resistances to ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, amikacin, gentamycin, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin and imipenem were evaluated by disc diffusion method and confirmed by E-test. Moreover, risk factors for MDR E. coli and K. pneumoniae were also detected.Results:The mean ages of the culture-positive cases of E. coli and K. pneumoniae were 33.39 ± 24.42 and 36.54 ± 24.66 years, respectively (P = 0.31); 137 (54.8%) cases were male and 113 (45.2%) were female (P = 0.53). Nineteen (14.2%) isolates of E. coli and 12 (10.3%) isolates of K. pneumoniae were sensitive to all the evaluated antibiotics. The prevalence of MDR E. coli and MDR K. pneumoniae was 50% and 46.6%, respectively (P = 0.59). The highest resistance for both strains was to ampicillin and no imipenem resistance was seen. The risk factors for MDR E. coli were admission history during the recent three months (P = 0.043) and antibiotic use in the previous month (P = 0.03); for MDR K. pneumoniae, they were admission in the pediatric ward (P = 0.016), surgical ward (P = 0.019), or gynecology ward (P = 0.12), admission duration of > seven days, and antibiotic use during the past month (P = 0.04).Conclusions:The prevalence of multidrug resistance was high compared with developed countries, and history of admission, antibiotic use, admission duration and admission wards were the risk factors for multidrug resistance.

Background: Nasal colonization of healthy children with Staphylococcus aureus is an important risk factor for different infections. Detection of colonized individuals with methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and its eradication is the proper prevention strategy for infection spread in the community and health-care centers. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, associated risk factors and antibiotic resistance pattern among healthy children who were nasal carriers of S. aureus. Patients and Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted on 350 one month to 14-year-old healthy children living in Kashan/Iran. The nasal specimens were cultured in blood agar medium for S. aureus. Positive cultures were evaluated for cephalothin, co-trimoxazole, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, oxacillin and vancomycin susceptibility by the disc diffusion method and E-test. Risk factors for nasal carriage of S. aureus and MRSA were evaluated. Results: Frequency of S. aureus nasal carriage was 92 from 350 cases (26.2%), amongst which 33 (35.9%) were MRSA. Isolates indicated an overall resistance of 52.2% to cephalothin, 33.7% to co-trimoxazol, 26.1% to ciprofloxacin, 26.1% to clindamycin, 35.9% to oxacillin and 4.3% to vancomycin. Factors associated with MRSA nasal carriage included gender (P value 0.001), age of less than four years (P value 0.016), number of individuals in the family (P value < 0.001), antibiotic use (P value < 0.001) and admission (P value < 0.001) during the previous three months, parental smoking (P value < 0.001) and sleeping with parents (P value 0.022). Conclusions: Age of less than four years, male sex, family size being more than four, antibiotic use and admission during the previous three months, parental smoking and sleeping with parents were independent risk factors for nasal colonization with MRSA.

Background:Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus is a substantial source of human infections. Detection and treatment of nasal carriage in children with methicillin-resistant and multidrug resistant S. aureus (MRSA and MDRSA, respectively) may be an important modality in prevention of infections.Objectives:This study determined the prevalence, antibiotic resistance patterns and risk factors for nasal carriage of MDRSA among healthy children.Patients and Methods:This cross-sectional study was carried out on 350 one-month to 14-year-old healthy children in Kashan city, Iran. From all health-care centers, four were chosen by simple random sampling. Nasal samples were cultured in blood agar medium for S. aureus and antibiotic susceptibility profile was determined by disc diffusion and E-test. Risk factors for nasal carriage of MDRSA were also determined.Results:A total of 92 (26.3%) S. aureus isolates were obtained, of which 33 (35.9%) were MRSA and 27 (29.3%) were MDRSA. Of MRSA strains, 19 (70.4%) were MDRSA. S. aureus isolates showed 52.2% resistance to cephalothin, 33.7% to co-trimoxazole, 26.1% to clindamycin, 26.1% to ciprofloxacin, 4.3% to vancomycin, and 35.9% to oxacillin. The risk factors for nasal carriage of MDRSA were antibiotic usage during the last three months (P = 0.006), family size of more than four members (P = 0.044), and parental smoking (P = 0.045).Conclusions:MDRSA was not uncommon among healthy children in Kashan and prevention of its spread in the population is judicious.

BackgroundTranscutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a non-pharmacological analgesic method used to control different types of pain.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of preoperative TENS on post inguinal hernia repair pain.Patients and MethodsThis randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed on 66 male patients with unilateral inguinal hernias who were admitted to the Shahid Beheshti hospital in Kashan, Iran, from April to October 2014. Participants were selected using a convenience sampling method and were assigned to intervention (n = 33) and control (n = 33) groups using permuted-block randomization. Patients in the intervention group were treated with TENS 1 hour before surgery, while the placebo was administered to patients in the control group. All of the patients underwent inguinal hernia repair by the Lichtenstein method, and pain intensity was evaluated at 2, 4, 6, and 12 hours after surgery using a visual analogue scale. Additionally, the amounts of analgesic administered by pump were calculated and compared between the two groups.ResultsThe mean estimated postoperative pain intensity was 6.21 ± 1.63 in the intervention group and 5.45 ± 1.82 in the control group (P = 0.08). In the intervention group pain intensity at 2 and 4 hours after surgery were 3.54 ± 1.48 and 5.12 ± 1.41 (P < 0.001), respectively. In the control group these values were 4.0±1.5 and 4.76 ± 1.39 (P = 0.04), respectively. No significant differences were observed in mean pain intensities at 6 and 12 hours.ConclusionsTENS can reduce postoperative pain in the early hours after inguinal hernia repair surgery.

A bstract Background: COVID-19 pneumonia is responsible for the latest pandemic. Usage of pulmonary computed tomography (CT) scan is known to be an important method in the diagnosis of COVID-19. Here, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between CT severity score and capillary blood oxygen saturation in patients with COVID-19 infection. Methods and material: This is a cross-sectional study performed in 2020 on patients with COVID-19 infection. All patients underwent pulmonary CT scan and CT severity score was calculated. The initial capillary oxygen saturation by the time of admission was also collected. Data were collected and analyzed. Results: A total number of 270 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection entered the study. The initial mean capillary oxygen saturation was 89.65 ± 8.09%. The mean score in patients was 15.16 ± 8.08. We also indicated that 27 patients had hypoxia by the time of admission and these patients had significantly higher CT severity scores ( p = 0.001). Diabetes mellitus ( p = 0.001), hypertension ( p = 0.001), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ( p = 0.03) and totally having an underlying disease ( p < 0.001) were significantly associated with decreased capillary oxygen saturation. Patients with hypertension ( p = 0.001) and patients with the previous medical disease ( p = 0.01) had significantly higher CT severity scores than others. There was a significant reverse relationship between CT severity score and capillary oxygen saturation ( r = −0.44, p < 0.001). Conclusions: We showed that there was a significant reverse relationship between CT severity score and capillary oxygen saturation which has great clinical importance. Furthermore, we indicated that previous medical history could also play an important role in CT severity score. How to cite this article: Aalinezhad M, Alikhani F, Akbari P, Haji Rezaei M, Soleimani S, Hakamifard A. Relationship between CT Severity Score and Capillary Blood Oxygen Saturation in Patients with COVID-19 Infection. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(3):279–283.

Background: Although Campylobacter strains are one cause of acute bacterial gastroenteritis, their clinical and laboratory findings have only been examined in a few studies. Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the frequency level as well as the clinical and laboratory findings of patients with acute gastroenteritis caused by Campylobacter. Patients and Methods:In this cross-sectional study, 419 Iranian children in Semnan city with acute gastroenteritis were assessed for their clinical and laboratory findings, including fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, dehydration, the presence of red blood cells and white blood cells (WBCs) in the stool, and leukocytosis. After being prepared for testing, a sample of the patient's stool was also examined for the presence of Campylobacter strains through microscopic examination, culture, and chemical reactions.Results: There were 36 positive cultures (8.6%) for Campylobacter, with frequencies of 6.4% and 10.3% for boys and girls, respectively (P = 0.16). The highest frequency of positive culture belonged to the age group over six years (P = 0.02). The most common findings associated with Campylobacter diarrhea included abdominal pain (77.8% vs.1 8.8%, P < 0.001), fever (80.6% vs. 20.4, P < 0.001), leukocytosis (72.2% vs. 45.7%, P = 0.002), and WBCs in the stool (63.9% vs. 23.8%, P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study showed that abdominal pain, fever, leukocytosis, and WBCs in the stool were associated with gastroenteritis infection caused by Campylobacter.

ObjectivesShear wave elastography (SWE) quantitatively determines the nature of the breast lesions. Few previous studies have compared the diagnostic value of this modality with other imaging techniques. The present study aimed to compare the diagnostic value of SWE with that of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting the nature of the breast masses.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 80 patients with breast lumps who had Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) score of three or higher based on mammography and/or screening ultrasonography, underwent 3D SWE and MRI. The lesions were classified according to MRI BI-RADS scoring; Mean elasticity (Emean) and elasticity ratio (Eratio) for each lesion were also determined by SWE. The results of these two modalities were compared with histopathologic diagnosis as the gold standard method; diagnostic value and diagnostic agreement were then calculated.ResultsOf the masses, 46.2% were histopathologically proven to be malignant. The Emean for benign and malignant masses was 34.04 ± 19.51 kPa and 161.92 ± 58.14 kPa, respectively. Both modalities had diagnostic agreement with histopathologic results (p<0.001). Kappa coefficient was 0.87 for SWE and 0.42 for MRI. The sensitivity of both methods was 94.59% (95% CI: 81.81–99.34), while the specificity and accuracy were 48.84% [95% CI: 33.31–64.54] and 70.0% [95% CI: 58.72–79.74] for MRI, and 93.02% [95% CI: 80.94–98.54] and 93.75% [95% CI: 86.01–97.94] for SWE.ConclusionsSWE has better diagnostic value in terms of determining the nature of the breast masses. SWE can increase the diagnostic function of differentiating benign masses from malignant ones.

BackgroundWorldwide, hepatitis A is a common infection during childhood especially in developing countries. It can cause severe complications in adults and patients with underlying diseases.ObjectivesThis study was performed to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis A in 1 - 15 year-old children of Kashan.Patients and MethodsThis cross-sectional study was performed on 666 one to fifteen year-old children from health-care centers in Kashan city during 2012. Total antibodies against hepatitis A were measured in sera by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsTotally, 3.9% of children were seropositive. Mean number of family members was 3.92 ± 0.89. There was no difference in seroprevalence of hepatitis A relative to sex, family size, mean age and age groups.ConclusionsIn this city, a great proportion of children are susceptible to hepatitis A and it’s complications at an older age. This decrease in seropositivity may be caused by elevated hygien level. According to our results hepatitis A vaccination is recommended at early childhood such as that of other regions where low prevalence of hepatitis A infection is found.