Background: The overuse and inappropriate use of antibiotics cause antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The antibiotic stewardship program (ASP) plays a crucial role in improving prescribing antibiotics. Although the Iraqi Ministry of Health has issued ASP legislation, its full implementation in clinical practice remains incomplete. Objectives: To explore physicians' perspectives regarding the current and potential implementation of ASP in Al-Nasiriya hospitals. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in Al-Nasiriyah public hospitals from December 17, 2023, to January 21, 2024, using face-to-face interviews. Physicians who prescribe antibiotics, work in Al-Nasiriyah public hospitals, and consent to participate in the study were recruited using purposeful and snowball sampling, and the size of the sample was specified by saturation. The interviews' audio was transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Results: Nine public hospitals in Al-Nasiriyah were included in the study. One hospital was excluded because the ASP was activated after data collection began. Sixteen physicians in different specialties were recruited, 15 males and one female. Thematic analysis revealed two major themes: challenges in antibiotic prescribing practices (3 subthemes: antibiotic selection, review, and practice, antibiotic mismanagement, and antibiotic resistance) and antibiotic stewardship implementation (4 subthemes: ASP knowledge and components, perceived benefits and importance, implementation challenges and barriers, and ASP enablers). Conclusions: There were many challenges in antibiotic prescribing practice, including antibiotic mismanagement and AMR. The participants acknowledged the importance of the ASP, but they mentioned many barriers to its application.
Until today, one of the leading predominant infections is Urinary tract infection (UTI). It exerts a huge burden on health systems worldwide each year. Treating UTIs empirically with antimicrobials improves morbidity rates. This study aims to assess the prevalence of UTI-associated bacteria in adult patients and to determine their antibiotic susceptibility profile. A retrospective study was conducted for adult outpatients who visited Al-Diwaniya tertiary hospitals from January 2020 till February 2022 to review their medical and lab records in addition to sociodemographic data. A total of 256 patients’ records were included of which 204 (79.7%) belong to females and 52 (20.3%) were males with an average age of 39.22±17.10 years. T
... Show MoreUntil today, one of the leading predominant infections is Urinary tract infection (UTI). It exerts a huge burden on health systems worldwide each year. Treating UTIs empirically with antimicrobials improves morbidity rates. This study aims to assess the prevalence of UTI-associated bacteria in adult patients and to determine their antibiotic susceptibility profile. A retrospective study was conducted for adult outpatients who visited Al-Diwaniya tertiary hospitals from January 2020 till February 2022 to review their medical and lab records in addition to sociodemographic data. A total of 256 patients’ records were included of which 204 (79.7%) belong to females and 52 (20.3%) were males with an average age of 39.22±17.10 years. The pr
... Show MoreIt is clear that correct application of antibiotic prophylaxis can reduce the incidence of infection resulting from the bacterial inoculation in a variety of clinical situations; it cannot prevent all infections any more than it can eliminate all established infections. Optimum antibiotic prophylaxis depends on: rational selection of the drug(s), adequate concentrations of the drug in the tissues that are at risk, and attention to timing of administration. Moreover, the risk of infection in some situations does not outweigh the risks which attend the administration of even the safest antibiotic drug. The aim of this study was to comp
... Show MoreDestiny functional theory (DFT) calculations are undertaken in order to scrutinize the electrochemical and calcium (Ca) storage characteristics of a graphyne-like aluminum nitride monolayer (G-AlNyen) as an electrode material for Ca-ion batteries (CIBs). The results show that the change in internal energy as well as the cell voltage values for the CIB with the G-AlNyen anode are comparable to others with two-dimensional 2D nano-materials. It is shown that Ca is adsorbed primarily onto the center of a hexagonal and triangular ring of G-AlNyen with absorption energies of −2.06 and −0.42 eV. After increasing the concentration of Ca atoms on G-AlNyen, the adsorption energy as well as the cell voltage decreases. Lower values of 0.15–0.32 e
... Show MoreThe paper delves into the examination of trauma portrayals in Heather Raffo's “Noura” (2019). Raffo examines the challenges faced by two Iraqi women, Raffo and Maryam, in relation to parenthood following the capture of Iraq by “ISIS”. The paper is concerned with the various depictions of trauma that Raffo accomplishes in the text then delves in the way she cocooned her characters’ identity in order to recover their traumas. Initially, Noura is a trauma tale, illustrating the recurrent and repetitive nature of trauma from mother to daughter. The narrative reflects the interactions and dynamics between the mother and daughter and their function as substitutes for memory and recounting personal narratives. Moreover, examin
... Show MoreIt is clear that correct application of antibiotic prophylaxis can reduce the incidence of infection resulting from the bacterial inoculation in a variety of clinical situations; it cannot prevent all infections any more than it can eliminate all established infections. Optimum antibiotic prophylaxis depends on: rational selection of the drug(s), adequate concentrations of the drug in the tissues that are at risk, and attention to timing of administration. Moreover, the risk of
... Show MoreIt is often needed to have circuits that can display the decimal representation of a binary number and specifically in this paper on a 7-segment display. In this paper a circuit that can display the decimal equivalent of an n-bit binary number is designed and it’s behavior is described using Verilog Hardware Descriptive Language (HDL). This HDL program is then used to configure an FPGA to implement the designed circuit.
These researches have shown the magnitude of the influence that culture exerts on all human extensions and spaces. Rather, the conviction of many thinkers, researchers and specialists in the comprehensiveness of this influence is such that it is used as a starting point and perspective to explain the various aspects, manifestations, problems and practices. According to these perceptions, a man carries a cultural mind that is slowly formed throughout the young years of a man’s life and is completed upon reaching the age of maturity. Therefore, it has become evident in the behavioral, social and human sciences to acknowledge the multiplicity of human thought patterns as a natural result of the different cultures of peoples and societies.
... Show MoreKlebsiella pneumoniae is among the most frequent microorganisms isolated from infections of burn wounds. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the distribution of multi-drug resistant (MDR) K. pneumoniae in two burn hospitals and the antibiotic resistance profile in different burn regions of the same patient. It was performed in two hospitals (Al-Zahraa and Al-Karama) in Al-Kut, Iraq, between January and May 2022. Totally, 100 burn swabs were collected from 40 patients of both genders suffering from burn wound infections, with ages ranging between 3 and 50 years. Klebsiella pneumoniae were isolated and identified using conventional methods followed by VITEK®2 system and confirmed via polymerase chain reaction targeting t
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