Background: Inappropriate use of antimicrobials results in rapid emergence of resistance, selection pressure on resistant microorganisms, adverse reactions, and treatment failures. An effective approach to improving antimicrobial use in healthcare settings is a structured antimicrobial management program known as antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). Education and training is considered a backbone element of AMS program .This study aimed to evaluate the impact of educational program on the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of healthcare providers (HCPs) towards antimicrobial stewardship before and after the educational program at the surgery department and surgical ICU, National Liver Institute hospital (NLI), Egypt.Results: Among the 69 invited HCPs, 48 attended the educational program sessions with attendance response rate about 70%. Regarding pre-educational KAP score of the respondents' physicians and pharmacists, 39.3% of them had good knowledge score, 85.7% of them had positive attitude, &and 31.8% of physicians had good practice score; however, 100% of the pharmacists had poor practice. Regarding the respondents' nurse, the pre-education mean score of knowledge was 13.3/20, attitude 14.8/16, and practice 9.3/14. Following educational program, there was a significant improvement in knowledge, attitude, and practice of the respondents' health care providers (P < 0.001); on the contrary, there was no significant improvement in the practice of pharmacists (P > 0.05). Conclusion:The implemented educational program was successful in improving the knowledge, attitude, and practice of HCPs; therefore, continuous efforts are needed to implement more educational programs to increase awareness towards AMS among HCPs.

BackgroundCoagulation changes can complicate liver resection, particularly in patients with cirrhosis. The aim of this prospective hospital-based comparative study was to compare the postoperative analgesic efficacy of intravenous fentanyl patient-controlled analgesia (IVPCA) with and without transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block.MethodsFifty patients with Child’s A cirrhosis undergoing liver resection were randomly divided into two groups for postoperative analgesia, ie, an IVPCA group receiving a 10 μg/mL fentanyl bolus of 15 μg with a 10-minute lockout and a maximum hourly dose of 90 μg, and an IVPCA + TAP group that additionally received TAP block (15 mL of 0.375% bupivacaine) on both sides via a posterior approach with ultrasound guidance before skin incision. Postoperatively, bolus injections of bupivacaine 0.375% were given every 8 hours through a TAP catheter inserted by the surgeon in the open space during closure of the inverted L-shaped right subcostal with midline extension (subcostal approach) guided by the visual analog scale score (<3, 5 mL; 3 to <6, 10 mL; 6–10, 15–20 mL) according to weight (maximum 2 mg/kg). The top-up dosage of local anesthetic could be omitted if the patient was not in pain. Coagulation was monitored using standard coagulation tests.ResultsAge, weight, and sex were comparable between the groups (P>0.05). The visual analog scale score was significantly lower at 12, 18, 24, 48, and 72 hours (P<0.01) in IVPCA + TAP group. The Ramsay sedation score was lower only after 72 hours in the IVPCA + TAP group when compared with the IVPCA group (1.57±0.74 versus 2.2±0.41, respectively, P<0.01). Heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and fentanyl consumption were lower in the IVPCA + TAP group at 24, 48, and 72 hours (P<0.05). Intensive care unit stays were significantly shorter with TAP (2.61±0.74 days versus 4.35±0.79 days, P<0.01). Prothrombin time and International Normalized Ratio indicated temporary hypocoagulability in both groups.ConclusionCombining TAP with IVPCA improved postoperative pain management and reduced fentanyl consumption, with a shorter stay in intensive care. TAP block can be included as part of a balanced multimodal postoperative pain regimen.

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Introduction Chronic hepatitis C is associated with many extrahepatic manifestations that impact and impair the quality of life. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has a high prevalence in Egypt and carries with the diagnosis many social impacts and stigmatization correlates that further impair social function. This might negatively impact patients and their sexual function. Sexuality and sexual function have not been studied well in patients with HCV, especially in women. Aim To investigate sexual dysfunction in Egyptian women with chronic hepatitis C. Main Outcome Measures Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scores of patients with hepatitis C, both total and for individual domains, were compared with those of controls. Methods The self-administered FSFI questionnaire was completed by 112 sexually active female patients with chronic hepatitis C without liver cirrhosis prior to initiation of therapy by pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Their results were compared to those of 225 age- and socioeconomic class-matched sexually active healthy females. Results Significantly more patients than controls had questionnaire scores below the threshold of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) (79% vs. 21%, P &lt; 0.05), and the mean total score for the patients was significantly lower than that for controls (19.54 ± 6.2 vs. 28.43 ± 4.9 P &lt; 0.001). The patients' scores in all domains of the questionnaire were significantly lower than those of the controls. Conclusion Chronic hepatitis C negatively impacts female sexual function, affecting all domains of the sex cycle; this warrants further studies and needs to be addressed as part of a comprehensive therapy plan to improve patients' quality of life.

Background Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health burden that affects quality of life, with a negative impact on sexual functioning (SF). Aim To study male sexual dysfunction (MSD) among Egyptian men with chronic HCV infection and the impact of therapy with direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) on their sexual health. Methods The self-administered International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire was completed by 400 sexually active male patients with chronic HCV infection without liver cirrhosis before the initiation of therapy with DAAs and then again at the completion of therapy. We compared these baseline questionnaires with those completed by a similar number of age-matched and socioeconomic status–matched controls. In the patients with HCV infection, we also compared IIEF questionnaires completed before and after DAA therapy. Main Outcome Measure We determined the proportions of patients and controls who were dissatisfied with their sexual life and the impact of clearing HCV infection on MSD and evaluated the impact of DAA therapy on the total IIEF score and scores in all IIEF domains. Results Men with chronic HCV infection before DAA treatment had significantly higher erectile dysfunction (ED) scores compared with controls, and scores increased with age (P &lt; .0001). The average scores in all IIEF domains was significantly lower in the patients compared with controls in all age groups. Men with chronic HCV infection had significantly higher ED scores before cure than after cure (P &lt; .0001). Clinical Implications Given the high prevalence of MSD in patients with chronic HCV infection, and given that curing the HCV virus can improve the MSD associated with HCV infection, it is recommended that sexual quality of life in men with HCV be addressed as part of the evaluation protocol before initiation of DAA treatment and again after cure in an effort to improve this particular aspect of quality of life. Strengths & Limitations This is the first study to report on MSD in the era of DAA therapy in Egyptian men with chronic HCV infection before the development of cirrhosis, with a relatively large study population. The use of a detailed version of the IIEF questionnaire reinforces the validity of our study. Conclusion Chronic HCV infection negatively impacts MSD, affecting all domains of the IIEF, and effects increase with age. The MSD associated with HCV infection is significantly improved in patients who are cleared of the virus. These findings require further confirmation and need to be addressed as part of a comprehensive therapeutic plan to improve patients’ quality of life.