Latif Moeini,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (3-2002)
Abstract
Introduction: Tuberculosis is one of the most important health problems in all around the world. Despite of progression in effective treatment, the disease reduction rate in countries in very slow or ever in significant.
Materials and Methods: This research is conducted in a descriptive-analytic method among 38 hospitalized patients at internal and infections disease services in Vali-Asr hospital (may 97 to may 98).
Results: 15 men (39%) and 23 women (61%) were identified. The major population was observed at age 61-70 and the least over 80 and under 20 years old. The means mean age was 56.5 years (SD=185) and womens 54 (SD=16). The citizens mean age was 47.6 and country people 64.6 that their difference is significant (p=0.01). the above delay was observed 3.2 months for pulmonary tuberculosis (both smear positive and smear negative) and 5.3 months for extrapulmonary tuberculosis, which were 50% lymphatic, 20% bone. 12.5% pritone and female genital (8 of 38). 70% were smear positive. WBC were in normal range (3000-10.000) among 79%. 74% were anemic. The mens mean hemoglobin was significant more than in womens (p=0.03).
Conclusion: According to there are not significant signs for tuberculosis, physician must be more attention to clinical patient finding.
Ali Fani,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (3-2002)
Abstract
Introduction: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including crohns disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), belong to the group of inflammatory disease with unknown origin, which primarily involve the gastrointestinal tract but also have extraintestinal manifestations. In western studies, an annual incidence of 5-11 in a hundred is thousands estimated and no similar epidemiological studies have been performed so far in Iran. In this study our goal is to determine the pattern of IBD and its clinical aspects in Arak.
Materials and Methods: In this study of 20 months duration (from april 2000 to sep 2001), all the patients with suspected IBD, referred to specific clinics, were evaluated by careful clinical, paraclinical, colonoscopy and histopathological tests and finally the diagnosis of IBD was made according to these criteria and then the collected data was statistically analyzed.
Results: From the total number of 108 patients , diagnosed with IBD, 97 cases (89.8%) had UC and (10.2%) had CD. From the patients with Uc, 41 (47.4%) were female and 21 (52.6%) were male and in CD patients, 8 cases (72.7%) were female and 27.3% male. 58.8% of UC cases were under 40 yars of age , in 19 cases (19.6%) of patients with UC. The duration of the disease was less than a year. Rectal involvement existed in all the patients with UC. Extraintestinal manifestations were rare except anemia. Patients with CD were all under 30 years old and ileocecal involvement existed in 8 of them with major manifestations of malabsorption syndromes. Recurrent fistulas led to 2 deaths.
Conclusion: Although this is not a broad epidemiological study, our effort eas to detect the maximum number of patients with IBD and in regard with 19 cases with less than a year history of the disease. The annual incidence. Of IBD in Arak is estimated to be more than 3.04% in hundred thousand. In the UC from of IBD. less complications (cancer, stenosis and tioxic colon) were found in comparison to western studies and in the case of CD, the prevalence is much lower but is accompanied by more serious GI complications. it is likely that IBD is no less prevalent in this region than the west but it is more missed and undetected which can be resolved by better evaluation of the patients upon admission.
Mahboobeh Khorsandi, Sharare Khosravi,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (3-2002)
Abstract
Introduction: Clinical education is the most important part of nursing and midwifery education. It is recognized as the heart of professional education. Clinical education includes more than half of nursing and midwifery education and is the base of acquired professional skills in students. So to improve the quality of clinical education its condition must be considered.
Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive- analytic study to investigate the view of nursing and midwifery students about clinical education condition. The sample was all of nursing and midwifery students in their fourth semester of education. The data was collected using a questionnaire consisting of five parts: demographic characteristics, educational planning, clinical education instructor, the health and medical care team and educational equipment and space.
Results: The results showed that most of the students view on educational planning was good and moderate (each 38.2%), on clinical instructor was moderate (34.4%). On health and medical care team was bad (50%), and on educational equipment and space was good (37.2%). The comparison of nursing and midwifery students view showed that there was no significant difference on educational planning, clinical instructor and educational equipment and space.
Conclusion: Educational program planners have to consider important factors affecting clinical education, specially the health and medical care team and their way of acting, who the majority of the sample of this study had a negative view on them.
Katayoon Vakilian,
Volume 5, Issue 1 (3-2002)
Abstract
Introduction: The first hours after birth is a critical for parent infant bonding. Touch of skin to skin contact between the infant and mother is necessary development of future parent child attachment, also increase mother care from infant.
Materials and Methods: This research is random clinical trial, 43 women is group with skin to skin contact and 43 women contact were compared. All of them were primigravida with wanted pregnancy and term newborn. Method of collection data were questionnaire and check list. In case group immediately after birth care, newborn be held with mother for skin to skin, eye to eye contact and breast feeding for 15 minutes. In control group didn’t so contacts. Materred offectionate behavior recorded during feeding in two steps. One in post partum foeld and another in mothers home after one month. The data obtained by descriptive statistics and T.Test.
Results: The mean age of group with contact were 20.6% and control group were 20.34%. 15.2% of group mothers with contact and 53.3% control group mothers knew fetus sex. In first step before leaving the hospital. The highest affectionate behavior in two groups related to looking at infant and lowest to kissing. T.test had significantly different in touching (p=0.01) and talking (p=0.02) in group with contact. Another step, was done after one month all of the mean affectionate behavior in group with contact were high and the highest behavior related to looking at the infant in two groups.
Conclusions: Data showed that maternal affectionate behavior in group with contact were higher than in contact group, first minutes and hours after birth are critical periods, and are necessary to contact between mother and newborn.
Mohammad Hassan Davami , Mohmood Reza Khazaii, Zahra Eslamirad, Maryam Mostofi , Masoumeh Modaresi,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (7-2002)
Abstract
Introduction: Alimentary parasitic infections are still one of the main problem in developing countries, and their relation with environmental factors are important. Since children are more vulnerable to these infections, in basic researchers this group is more targeted.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was carried out on 1-13 years children who were living in Shahrak-e-Valiasr Arak. Simple random sampling was used for selecting 385 children. Three days collected feces samples from each person were examined using formaline-ether concentration technique. Data were analyzed by Chi square method.
Results: The results showed a prevalence of 42.3% of intestinal parasitic infections in the children. From these, 17.4% were pathogen parasits. The highest prevalence was reported for Giardia lambia (16.6%). Girls were more infected than boys. The level of infection was significantly increased by age. The prevalence of the infection was more in orphans or in children who had uneducated parents.
Conclusion: Since date indicated of a high prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in the children. It is suggested to use washed and clean vagetables and fruits and also emphasize on personal and environmental hygiene.
Saeed Changizi Ashtiani, Saeed Khameneh , Nahid Ghandechilar,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (7-2002)
Abstract
Introduction: The off response of baroreflex is mostly ignored by recent studies. In the present study we aimed at assessing this during rest, and isometric and dynamic exercise.
Materials and Methods: 12 young male subjects volunteered the study. Using an Eckberg neck suction device each subject received a brief (10 sec). about of sustained stimulus with -50 mm Hg pressure in the neck chamber. The workload incorporated was 100w for dynamic and 50% of maximal effort for isometric exercise. Electrocardiogram was recorded on line R-R intervals were assessed beat and responsed cardiac response. This was significant at all three states.
Results: on the average, the peak off-response tachycardia occurred earlier (3rd sec). in exercise tests as compared with that of rest (5th sec). the intensity of tachycardia was more prominent at rest, isometric exercise, and dynamic exercise, respectively and the difference between rest and dynamic exercise gained significance (p<0.01).
Conclusion: The attenuation of so called post vagal tachycardia during exercise is in accordance with the assumed reduction of vagal tone during exercise.
Laleh Soleimanizadeh, Teymor Agamolaei ,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (7-2002)
Abstract
Introduction: The purpose of this research is to examine depression rate in nursing, midwifery and health students and its relation with individual perception about being religious in Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services.
Materials and Methods: In this study 299 students (105 male and 194 female) were examined with non-random and easy sampling method. They examine with Beck Depression Test and Alport Religious Guidance.
Results: On the basis of Beck Depression Test 55.5% were without depression, 32.1% mild depression, 11% moderate depression and 1.3% sever and very sever depression. Also with use of two dimension Alport Religious Guidance, 8.7% of subjects had external and 91.3% internal religion. On the basis of other classification of Alport Religious Guidance 70.9% of subjects had high, 21.4% moderate and 7.7% low religion. By the means of x2 Test it shows the rate of depression between girls and boys have not significant difference (p>0.05). In order to access relationship between the rate of depression and religious viewpoint, Pearson Correlation Test was used that results show that it is reverse correlation between them. So that with increased religious viewpoint the rate of depression was decreased (r=-0.6, p<0.05)
Conclusion: In low religion subjects, the rate of depression was more than religion subjects.
Masoumeh Sufian,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (7-2002)
Abstract
Introduction: Rubella is a self limited viral disease. But in pregnant woman it can produvce congenital rubella syndromes with multiple fetal defects. Mothers immunity is made by the disease or vaccination. In advanced countries against rubella is done by government. However in Iran rubella n vaccination is not recommended for all health organization. This study is done for the determination of immunity against rubella in women before marriage.
Materials and Methods: In this study T women referring to medical lab for screening of thalassemia are selected as the subjects of the research, the blood of the subjects was analyzed to check their immunity for rubella by the use of ELISA (Radim kit), their rubella immunity was determined. In this study 1563 samples were under investigation, the research was in the form of descriptive study and sampling was done simple randomely.
Results: In this study among 1563 samples, 80.2% (1256 samples) were immune against rubella and among 19.8% (309 samples) were sensitive for rubella. As a result there was a positive significant relationship between age and immunity (p=0.00058). But there was not a significant relationship between level of education, place of living and immunity.
Conclusion: Considering the results of this study it is concluded that vaccination against rubella in childhood can be useful, and has a positive effect against rubella. If there is finitial limitation for this vaccination it is recommended for high school girls.
Zohreh Anbari,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (7-2002)
Abstract
Introduction: Continuing medical education of physician society as a part of human power education is specially important. For change in methods of behavior, reasoning and professional culture so study the level of physicians motivation in them for entering in programs in necessary.
Materials and Methods: To determine relation of 7 criteria; as motivation factors consist of convenience , relevance, individualization, self-assessment, interest, speculation and systematic has into reliability determined 0.68. sample capacity has been 360 province in Markazi province that and analyzed by chi2 Test and software of SPSS.
Results: This research showed a meaningful relation between all of the criteria and s=establish motivation in physicians (p<0.0001) . coefficient of correlation has been 0.846 in individualization, 0.809 in convenience, 0.605 in relevance, 0.523 in speculation, 0.509 in systematic, 0.491 in self-assessment , 0.483 in creation of interst.
Conclusions: This research showed that creation of motivation will be more if physician given partnership and express their opinion programs and time and place of program be more suitable.
Ehsanollah Ghaznavirad, Ali Fazeli, Rahmatollah Yazdani, Mohammad Rafii, Ali Jurabchi,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (7-2002)
Abstract
Introduction: Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a gram negative diplococci belong to family neisseriacae and is causative agent of gonorrheae. Culture and antibiograme of this bacteria is done lower than other cases and determination rate of MIC in this bacteria is inly done in reference laboratories. The goal of this study id introducing a relationship which in studied population, MIc more easily and eithout doing complex technical examinations is placed available for physicians.
Materials and Methods: In this research on 50 cases of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated from patients with gonorrhoeae antibiograme test were done and then for every antibiotic discs the zone of inhibition were measured. Then on the basis of instructions of NCCL for four antibiotics were planed to this disease (penicillin, tetracycline, spectinomycine and ceftriaxone) MIc on GC agar medium were measured and between zone of inhibition as an independent variable and MIC as a dependent variable linear regression is seen which from this line equation can understand how is the relation between MIc and zone of inhibition. It means that wether this relationship is direct or reverse?
Results: The findings show that in all antibiotics the relationship between zone of inhibition and MIc are negative (reverse) and regression coefient for first three antibiotics have (p<0.0001) and for fourth antibiotics has (p<0.001).
Conclusions: It means that with probability less than 0.0001 for penicillin, tetracycline, spectinomycine and probanility less than 0.001 for ceftriaxone can estimate the counter effect pf zone of inhibition and MIc in studied population.
Ali Fani,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (7-2002)
Abstract
Introduction: Lower gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) as well as upper GIB, is one of the most common causes of patients referral to surgen and internist. From patients view, nothing is as terrible as bleeding from mouth or anus. Lower GIB may be benign or malignant, simple or complex. Bleeding may be occult with further weakness, or it may be severe and lead to death. So lower GIB work up from etiological point of view is mandatory.
Materials and Methods: This was an observational and descriptive-analytic study, performed from Jul, 23, 2000 to Aug,11, 2001. In this study, we evaluated patients with gross rectorrhagia referred to aspecial clinics, by history taking, physical examination, anoscopy, rectosigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy and barium enema.
Results: From the total number of 580 cases who completed the study, 55.0% were male and 44.8% female . 401/3% had constipation and rectorrhagia, 14.7% had chronic diarrhea with rectorrhagia and 45% had rectorrhagia with normal bowel habits. From etiological point of view , 20% of patients had hemorrhoid , 12.4% had anal fissures, 10.2% had inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), 9.65% had polyps, 3.1% had infective pocititis and 30.4% were unknown causes.
Conclusion: Gross rectorrhagia is relatively common cause of GIB. Although most of the lesions were of benign nature. in this study, because of serious complications and high morbidity and mortality, IBD, colonic polyps and cancer must be ruled out with complete work up.
Manijheh Kahbazi , Susan Marefati ,
Volume 5, Issue 2 (7-2002)
Abstract
Introduction: Asthma is one of the most chronic long disease of childhood that caused repeated admitting in hospital & school day lost. Asthma identifies with recurrent attack of cough, dyspnea & wheezing. The goals of treatment are relief of Acute symptoms, prevention or diminish the frequency of recurrent symptoms maintain normal pulmonary functions & maintain normal activity level.
Materials and Methods: In our study, all patients with final diagnosis of asthma that hospitalized in Amir-Kabir hospital from 79.1.1 to 80.1.30 evaluated.
Results: first line drugs that used Aminophylline (62%), antibiotics 56%, corcosteriod 42%, inhaled salbutamol 14% and oral salbutamol 0.6%. others that used in the period of treatment according to prevalence are antibiotics 85% , aminophylline 74%, corticosteroid 5%, oral salbutamol 40%, adrenaline 31%, inhaled salbutamol 24% & theophylline_G 14%. Most of clinicians use aminophylline instead of beta agonist, Only 14%. patients receive inhaled salbutamol in the first line.
Conclusion: There findings reflect inappropriate therapy of asthma. It seems that little knowledge of clinicians about new medical methods, absence of new drugs and little knowledge of patients & their family of patients and their norriment about use of inhaled drug, are basic problems. That’s logical, that education of clinicians & patient their parents, explanation the mandatory of preparation of new drugs & proper device to manages can resolve their problems.
Shahla Enshaeye , Zabihollah Shah Moradi , Masoud Farinam,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (3-2003)
Abstract
Chemical weapons are among the most violent weapons of mass destruction used during wars. Unfortunately, these dreaful weapons were frequently used by Iraq against Iranian soldiers during Iran-Iraq war, so that we are still witnessing the late onset consequence of the exposure to these weapons among their victims.
Regarding the fact that the usage of chemical weapons is a threat against humanity with many hazardous effects which tend to appear even after years of exposure, it seems very important to have a complete and correct undestanding about the nature of these gasses in order to gain more information about the clinical pictures of their victims leading to a better approach to the management of there patients. The present article in the result of thorough review and analysis to the textbooks articles and papers published in the last two decades. There are minor and major complications associated with the exposure to these lethal gasses, ranging from simple medical problems like skin colour changes to more serious conditions such as severe ophthalmologic and pulmonary injuries and malignancies. There complications are reviewed in two separate categories (regarding early onset as late onsent complications) in this article. |
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Arash Bayat, Mohammad Farhadi, Hesamodin Emam Jomeh ,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (3-2003)
Abstract
Introduction: The existence of acoustic trauma secondary to drill noise during chronic ear surgeries has not yet been clearly demonestrated. This investigation aims to document the hearing loss that occures in patients who underwent mastoidectomy.
Materials and Methods: Sixty-three (38 male and 25 female) consecutive patients (11-57 years) who underwent modified radical mastoidectomy were included. In a concurrent clinical trial design, we measured bone conduction thresholds before and after (1 week and 1 month) operation on both sides.
Bone conduction thresholds were assessed in 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000 and 4000 Hz frequencies.
Results: Paired-test results showed a satistically significant temporary (TTS) and permanent threshold shifts (PTS) were occured in the 2000-4000 Hz region for operated (on addition to 1000 Hz) and non-operated ears, but clinically PTSs were not remarkable and TTSs were important only for operated ear (P<0.05). The correlation between duration of noise exposure and magnitude of threshold shift was only significant in operated ear in 2000-4000 Hz region (P<0.05).
Conclusion: We could not demonestrate any permanent hearing loss caused by drill-generated noise, but resultant noise is able to produce TTS in the operated ear in 2000-4000 Hz region. We found poor relationship between duration of noise exposure and magnitude of threshold shifts.
Najmeh Tehranian, Saeedeh Mousavi, Anoshirvan Kazemnejad Anoushiravan,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (3-2003)
Abstract
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluting of salivary estriollevel in hospitalized women with diagnosis of preterm labor.
Materials and Methods: This was an analytic observationat investigation. During this study, salivary estriol specimens were obtained from 43 women at 24 to 34 weeks 6 days gestational age with symptoms of preterm lab or .We compared maternal salivary estriollevels between case group with preterm labor.
Results: This study showed that the mean of salivary estriollevels in 31, 32, 33, 34 weeks in case group were higher than control group. Reciever-operator curve showed that exceeding a 0.1875 ng/ml salivary estriollevel was associated with occurrence of preterm delivery.
Conclusion: This study showed a wide range of salivary estriollevels in different pregnants and this distinction became more extent with lengthening gestation. Detection of increased estriollevel may be clinically helpful in defining at risk woman for preterm birth.
Shima Chehreie, Ali Reza Jamshidi-Fard, Ali Haeri Rouhani,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (3-2003)
Abstract
Introduction: Sympathetic skin response (SSR) is a central, polysynaptic process which is attributed to sympathetic sudomotor activity. The descinding pathway presents spinal sympathetic system to sweat glands of hands and feets skin. The glands which are affected in reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD).
Materials and Methods: In present study, SSRs were recorded from left hands of 62 adult healthy subjects and 12 affected hands of RSD patients in relaxed, supine position at room temperature. Recording were performed by a pair of silver cup electrodes (1cm2) after stimulation of contralateral median nerve at volar aspect of wrist, all connected to a polygraph (physiograph, Narco, USA) to record at least five stimulation recording prosedure in each subject.
Results: Comparison of mean latency, amplitude, duraion and shape of responses in RSD 'patients with normal control group showed significant differences between duration and amplitudes (P=0.0007 and P=0.0001) while the latencies were not different and the shape of responses were mostly biphasic in both RSD and normal group.
Conclusion: Hyperactivities of SSRs in RSD patients are due to sudomotor changes of skin resistance, the SSR may also play a role in the quantitive evaluation of patients with suspected RSD.
Ali Reza Susan-Abadi, Mohammad Javad Bagheri, Ensieh Mahdikhani ,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (3-2003)
Abstract
Introduction: Nausea and vomiting are a common manifestation in anatomic and functional disorders and these are current complication after general anesthesia and are unpleasent and with secondary complication. Nausea and vomiting are the most common complications after general anesthesia.
Materials and Methods: In this study we compared three methods which one of them is droperidol with other methods consisting of IV metoc1opramide and placebo. This controlled study was done in teaching Vali Asr hospital. Total number of patient was 300. Type of sampling was random. Type of operation was laparatomy and all of them had general anesthesia. We divided them in three equal groups (droperidol group, metoclopramide group and placebo group). In this study we used from history and examination and we finished puzzles and we use from statistication.
Results: We concluded that there is valuable difference between metoclopramide and droperidol group (with considering P=0.000). The results were shown that: droperidol is more effective than metoclopramide in the prevention of postoperative vomiting after abdominal surgery.
Conclusion: With comparison of these data we fined that droperidol is a suggestive and valuable method also effective method in preventing postoperative vomiting. Also finding were shown that there isn't a meaning relation between age the kind of abdominal surgery and postoperative vomiting. |
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Saeed Kianbakht , Ali Ghazavi, Zahra Ghafari , Masoumeh Kalantari, Marjan Mehri ,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (3-2003)
Abstract
Introduction: Saffron (crocus sativus L.), an important spice rich in carotenoids, is used in folk medicine to treat numerous diseases. This study examines the effects of saffron consumption on innate and humoral immunity of healthy male students.
Materials and Methods: 41 healthy volunteered university students in two control and case groups were included in this study and consumed respectively milk and milk containing saffron for 6 weeks. Blood samples were collected from the subjects at weeks 0, 3 and 6. Innate immunity was evaluated by determining the percentage and counts of monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, platelets and the total white cells, CRP concentration and C3 and C4 concentrations and humoral immunity was assessed by deterning the percentage of lymphocytes and the concentrations of IgG, IgM and IgA.
Results: Three weeks after saffron consumption, monocytes percentage and IgG concentration increased significantly (P<0.05, P=0.01). Total white blood cells and platelets count also reduced significantly (P<0.05). After 6 weeks, monocytes percentage and IgG concentration reduced significantly (P<0.05, P< 0.001) and platelets count increased significantly (P<0.05) as compared with week 3.
Conclusion: This investigation demonstrated that saffron consumption enhances innate and humoral immunity systems and has anti-inflammatory effects. These effects depending on the duration of saffron consumption.
Malek Soleimani-Mehrunjani, Mohammad Ali Shariat-Zadeh,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (3-2003)
Abstract
Introduction: Compensatory renal growth (CRG) is growth of the remaining functional nephrons and interstitium alter some nephrous have been surgically removed or damaged due to disease. This growth includes the increase of kidney weight caused by hepertrophy and hyperplasia. Although uremic patients are often treated with growth hormone (GH), it is thought that GH may actually increase the degree of renal hypertrophy and the progress of CRG to the scarring and therefore accelerate renal failure. The aim was ultrastructural study of the effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on the renal tubulointerstitial changes following 5/6 nephrectomy (SNX).
Materials and Methods: For this 48 rats from mule Lewis and Dwarf Lewis rats strains were used. Each strain was divided to control, control+rhGH, SNX and SNX+rhGH groups. Dwarf rats strain have only 10% of circulating GH compared to the normal strain one month later the rats were injected with exogenous growth hormone (thGH) or saline two times per day for 30 consecutive days.
Results: The results showed tubular basement membranes was partially thickened in control thGH group and it was too thickened and multi-layered in the SNX groups. Tubular basement membrane was too thickened in the SNX-TGH group in compared to SNX only. Many of Convoluted tubules lost their apical architecture and mitochondria often appeared damaged and cytoplasm contained increased numbers of lysosomes. After SNX areas of focal fibrosis were common. These areas were become infiltrated with modified fibroblasts and myofibroblasts were present. The interstitium become filled with extracellular fibres and amorphous material.
Conclusion: It is evident that many of these changes were made more sever by treatment with thGH in both strains following SNX. So it seems GH caused more synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins and ultrastructural changes of the renal tubulointerstitial.
Mohtaram Nasrollahi , Mahdi Sharif, Ali Reza Khalilian,
Volume 6, Issue 1 (3-2003)
Abstract
Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of pneumococcal infections, to determine penicillin and ceftriaxone susceptibility pattern among Streprococcus pneumoniae and to evaluate the risk factors of acquisition of pneumococcal infections in patients of Sari hospitals.
Materials and Methods: In this prospective study during one year (2002-2003), all patients admitted with pneumococcal infections in teaching and non-teaching hospitals were included. Diagnosis of pneumococcal infection was performed based on positive microbiological and appropriate clinical and standard laboratory findings. MICs of penicillin and ceftriaxone were determined by Agar dilution method and interpreted by NCCLS methodology. For statistically analysis Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used and P<0.05 was defined statistically significant.
Results: Seventy five episodes of pneumococcal infections among 32 pediatric patients and 43 adults were identified. The pattern of Streprococcus pneumoniae infections were similar between children and adults, and the most common infections were pneumonia (65.3%) and bacteremia (24%). The rate of penicillin and ceftriaxone nonsusceptible Streprococcus pneumoniae isolated from pediatric patients was higher than that in adult patients (93.8% versus 53.4%, P<0.01). This finding was correlated to prior penicillin use that was more common in children (37.5%) than in adults (7%). P=0,001. The susceptibility pattern of Streprococcus pneumoniae to penicillin and ceftriaxone isolated form pediatric patients and adults was different (6.2% from children, 46.6% in adults, P=0.0009). Eighty four percent of adults and 6.2% of pediatric patients had major underlying diseases (P<0.0001). This findings explain why adult patients tended to run higher mortality (30.2%) than children (6.8%).
Conclusion: This survey emphasis on vaccination of young children and elderly with major underlying diseases to prevent pneumococcal infections.