Oman medical journal
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Oman medical journal · Jan 2009
Predictors of positive chest radiography in non-traumatic chest pain in the emergency department.
To determine predictors associated with positive chest x-ray finding in patients presenting with non-traumatic chest pain in the Emergency Department (ED). ⋯ This study found that patients with non-traumatic chest pain are likely to have a normal chest x-ray if they were young, not tachypnoeic or short of breath, and had no significant past medical history. A larger study is required to confirm these findings.
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Oman medical journal · Apr 2008
Use of ventilator bundle to prevent ventilator associated pneumonia.
To determine if the knowledge and awareness of "ventilator bundle" helped in the prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia and other outcome variables in the patients admitted to our AICU. ⋯ Introducing the concept of "ventilator bundle" helped us to reduce the incidence of VAP, reduce the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleed. It reduced the mean duration of ventilation in both the medical and surgical patients who developed VAP. The effect on decreasing the length of stay was seen in the surgical patients only.
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Oman medical journal · Apr 2008
Antibiotic combination as empirical therapy for extended spectrum Beta-lactamase.
extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing gram negative bacilli are becoming a growing problem worldwide with difficulties in designing a national formulary for empirical treatment of gram negative sepsis. ⋯ ESBLs have high resistance profile against Piperacillin/Tazobactam and Ciprofloxacin. The ESBLs from Oman have similar resistantce pattern as those reported from UK and USA. This resistance decreases when these drugs are combined with Amikacin. All ESBLs are susceptible to Carbapenems. However, carbepenam overuse can lead to emergence of carbapenems resistant gram negative bacilli and ESBLs. Combination of Amikacin plus Piperacillin/Tazobactam is a feasible empirical therapy for ESBLs.
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The aim of this study was to analyze the lumbar puncture of all suspected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for suspected meningitis. ⋯ Based on the fact that only 7% of the 395 CSF studies were abnormal, we conclude that better clinical judgment and diagnostic criteria are warranted, before laying out guidelines for lumbar puncture to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Besides fever and convulsions as indicators for CSF studies clinical parameters such as irritability, lethargy and sick looking appearance are better indicators.