This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infestations among school children in Kaski District of Western Nepal. A total of 2091 stool samples were collected from school children selected from 11 rural and eight urban schools. The stool samples were examined for evidence of parasitic infections by direct microscopic examination. Prevalence of intestinal parasites was 21.3%. There was a significant difference in prevalence between urban (18.7%) and rural (24.1%) school samples. Giardia lamblia (13.2%), Ascaris lumbricoides (2.1%) and Entamoeba histolytica (1.7%) were the commonest parasites isolated. The results indicate that intestinal parasitic infestation among school children in the study area is mainly water-borne. The burden of parasitic infestations among the school children, coupled with the poor sanitary conditions in the schools, should be regarded as an issue of public health priority. This strongly supports the need for school health programmes that will involve periodic deworming, health education and improvement of school sanitation.

Stethoscopes are an essential tool of the medical profession and can become a source of nosocomial infection. A study conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, Kasturba Medical College and Hospital showed a high carriage of methicillin resistant staphylococcus (69.76%) and multi-drug resistant Gram negative bacilli (20.93%) on regularly used stethoscopes. The antibiogram of the bacterial isolates strongly suggested these to be nosocomial strains. A verbal survey revealed that regular cleaning is not common among doctors. A policy regarding cleaning of stethoscopes with an effective disinfectant may be helpful in reducing hospital-associated infections.

Primary invasion of nails by molds can cause onychomycosis.

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BackgroundBlood stream infections (BSIs) are important determinants for prolonged hospital stay and if uncontrolled, progress to become life-threatening. The aim of this study is to determine the common bacterial agents associated with BSI and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in a tertiary care teaching hospital in the Western region of Nepal. MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted for a 20 month period from January 2006 to August 2007. All adult patients with fever (temperature ≥ 38°C) when assessed in the outpatient department or various inpatient wards were enrolled in the study. ResultsOf the 933 patients with febrile illness, only 96 were diagnosed to have BSIs. Salmonella spp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were the common etiological agents of BSIs. S. Paratyphi A and S. Paratyphi B were responsible for 46.7% of the enteric fever cases. The clinical diagnosis of enteric fever was not sensitive and specific. The members of Enterobacteriaceae were frequently resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin/ clavulanic acid and gentamicin. About one-third of the K.pneumoniae, E.coli and Enterobacter spp. produced extended-spectrum β-lactamases. The non-fermenters were unusually sensitive to most antibiotics. ConclusionGram-negative bacteria were the predominant causes of BSIs. The occurrence of drug resistant S. Paratyphi A is of great concern for travellers, as they are not protected with an effective vaccine. Imipenem showed good activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa indicating lack or low level of MBL activity.