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An Interventional Study to Improve the Healthcare Waste Management Among Nursing Officers in Type-A Base Hospital in Southern Province - Sri Lanka
Liyanage Dilip Hikkaduwa,
Krishanth Maddage Don Athula,
Wickramaratne Nadhee Pethathahandi
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, December 2021
Pages:
40-43
Received:
27 June 2021
Accepted:
12 July 2021
Published:
19 July 2021
Abstract: Clinical waste management is a burning issue worldwide. Environmental pollution and associated health risks, including disease transmission and social problems are the main consequences of this issue. The most governments are paying more attention to develop effective and efficient healthcare waste management in the curative health sector. This intervention project was conducted among the nursing staff at the Type A Basic Hospital in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka to improve the healthcare waste management among Nursing Officers attached to the hospital. An initial assessment was conducted to determine the waste generation and segregation practices of the hospital. Staff knowledge and waste management practices were assessed, as well as available segregation facilities, and interventions were designed and implemented. A post-intervention analysis was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. The main problems identified were lack of equipment, poor knowledge on health care waste management, and lack of proper guidelines developed by hospital management for proper health care waste management. A new guideline with waste segregation colour coding and practice was developed to improve knowledge of waste segregation, temporary storage, transport, and final disposal. Several training sessions were held for nurses. The improvement in knowledge and practice after the intervention was statistically significant (P = 0.001). The package of strategies such as improvement of knowledge, system change, transferring ownership of the project, provision of basic equipment, supervision and experience sharing has been successful in meeting project goals, and continuing professional training and supervision is recommended to ensuring sustainability.
Abstract: Clinical waste management is a burning issue worldwide. Environmental pollution and associated health risks, including disease transmission and social problems are the main consequences of this issue. The most governments are paying more attention to develop effective and efficient healthcare waste management in the curative health sector. This int...
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Drug Utilization Study in Ophthalmology Outpatient Department of a Tertiary Care Hospital in West Africa
Charles Nii Kwade Ofei-Palm,
Naa Naamuah Tagoe,
Dong Jatoe,
Angela Agyare,
Freda Suubam,
Daniel Ankrah
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, December 2021
Pages:
44-49
Received:
27 August 2021
Accepted:
13 September 2021
Published:
26 September 2021
Abstract: The World Health Organization (WHO) addressed drug utilization as the marketing, distribution, prescription and use of drugs in a society, considering its consequences, either medical, social, (and) or economic. The increasing importance of drug utilization studies as a valuable investigative resource in pharmacoepidemiology has bridged it with other health related areas, such as public health. Surveillance of drug use by the doctors within the institution as well as in the community is assuming an increasingly key role in therapeutics. This was a cross-sectional study of prescription pattern and drug utilization trends at the Lions International Eye Centre (LIEC) of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and adherence to the standard prescription form at the Eye Centre. Prescriptions that were presented to the LIEC pharmacy unit within the period from October 2015 to March 2016 were captured and reviewed. The total number of drugs in the 588 prescriptions was 1265. The average number of drugs per prescription was 2.1. Drug dosage, route of administration, frequency, and duration of treatment record were mentioned in 95.01% (1202/1265), 97% (1227/1265), 98.46% (1240/1265) 96.05% (1215/1265) of the prescriptions respectively. Anti-glaucoma medicines were the most prescribed 21.8% (276/1265), Prescribing by generic name slightly dominated with 51.1% (645/1265) of the total number of drugs prescribed. Use of Ophthalmic antibiotics alone and the use of ophthalmic antibiotics in combination with other medicines were 13.5% (171/1265) and 11.9% (142/1265) respectively.: The findings of this study revealed that the drug utilization pattern was not in line with the recommended standard values of WHO prescribing indicators even though the level of compliance to the requirements on the standard prescription form of the hospital for drug prescribers was remarkably high. The availability of key medicines should be improved whilst generic prescribing from EDL should also be encouraged.
Abstract: The World Health Organization (WHO) addressed drug utilization as the marketing, distribution, prescription and use of drugs in a society, considering its consequences, either medical, social, (and) or economic. The increasing importance of drug utilization studies as a valuable investigative resource in pharmacoepidemiology has bridged it with oth...
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HPMC Capsules for Moisture Sensitive and Hygroscopic Products
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, December 2021
Pages:
50-52
Received:
21 July 2021
Accepted:
24 August 2021
Published:
30 September 2021
Abstract: Background: Moisture content varies in capsules made from different materials. Gelatin capsules contain 13-16% moisture. HPMC (Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose or Hypromellose) capsules may contain moisture 2- 8%. Usual HPMC capsules have inherently low moisture content which allows for the encapsulation of ingredients that are sensitive to moisture and are hygroscopic in nature. This has greatly broadened the scope of capsules in drug delivery. Moisture content of HPMC capsules can be reduced as low as 2%. HPMC capsules lower moisture content is better for moisture sensitive and hygroscopic products. Objective: Low moisture content of HPMC capsules help to improve stability of moisture sensitive active pharmaceutical and active nutraceutical active ingredients. This is illustrated with examples. Different properties of HPMC capsules helps targeted delivery. It offers some special advantages for nutraceutical products. It also helps to improve physical stability of capsules. Liquid filled hard capsules provide many options and are commonly used for nutraceutical products.
Abstract: Background: Moisture content varies in capsules made from different materials. Gelatin capsules contain 13-16% moisture. HPMC (Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose or Hypromellose) capsules may contain moisture 2- 8%. Usual HPMC capsules have inherently low moisture content which allows for the encapsulation of ingredients that are sensitive to moisture ...
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Determination of Microbeads from Paste in Some Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products
Mohammed Yaqob Shareef,
Forkan Mohammed Yaqob Shareef
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, December 2021
Pages:
53-61
Received:
14 April 2021
Accepted:
20 August 2021
Published:
12 October 2021
Abstract: Since the study of microplastics has only emerged in the last few years, there is a gap in research in terms of the analysis and quantification of microplastics in cosmetic pastes. Consequently, the main aim of this project was to develop an optimal analytical method for the separation and quantification of microbeads from cosmetic pastes in order to address this emerging global issue. Liquid solid extraction of microplastics from cosmetic paste through filtration under vacuum was implemented. And quantification with standard addition and characterization via infrared spectroscopy and light microscopy were used. Optimal extraction conditions were established which consists of boiled distilled water and vacuum filtration using Büchner funnel of 125 mm diameter. Recovery from different pastes had 94.64%, 85.09% and 92.30% microbead recovery which indicated that the extraction method proved to be efficient. Repeatability was found to be supportive of findings. The microbeads were analyzed under light microscopy where it was established that the microplastics extracted from the cosmetic pastes were smaller than 1 mm in size. An ideal method was developed for the extraction and quantification of microbeads from pastes. From this research project it was also deduced that paste matrix affects the recovery of microbeads from the product. Thus, standard addition approach must be carried out for each paste for quantification with high trueness.
Abstract: Since the study of microplastics has only emerged in the last few years, there is a gap in research in terms of the analysis and quantification of microplastics in cosmetic pastes. Consequently, the main aim of this project was to develop an optimal analytical method for the separation and quantification of microbeads from cosmetic pastes in order ...
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A Review on Zebra Fish as a Preclinical Model for Natural Drug Discovery
Omer Ibrahim Abdallh Omer
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, December 2021
Pages:
62-67
Received:
16 October 2021
Accepted:
15 November 2021
Published:
29 November 2021
Abstract: Natural products represent a significant reservoir of unexplored chemical diversity for early-stage drug discovery. Zebra fish has been used as a preclinical model for identifications of various natural compounds presents on natural products, early life stage tests with zebra fish used to detect toxicity of compounds from natural bloom extract on their embryolarval development. The use of Medicinal plants for treatment of neurological & neuro-degenerative disorders, cardiovascular and anti-melongenesis are very common. Bitter gourd shows anti-diabetic effects by using zebra fish model in a designed experiment. Zebra fish has been used as a tool for discovering of phyto-chemical compounds in natural products and their activities such as, fruit of Terminalia chebula possessing the activity of anti- epileptic, Oxygonum sinuatum and Plectranthus barbatus showed anti-angogensis with the active compounds Emodin & Coleon A lactone. Cardiac toxicity by the fruit extract of M. charantia reported. Zebra fish is gaining more interest as a preclinical tool for drug discovery because it has been demonstrate that pharmacokinetic analysis can be under-taken in this model. The study concludes that and gives a desktop reference to the new researchers in finding out the earlier attempts which were made on zebra fish (Danio rerio) as a preclinical tool in natural product discovery.
Abstract: Natural products represent a significant reservoir of unexplored chemical diversity for early-stage drug discovery. Zebra fish has been used as a preclinical model for identifications of various natural compounds presents on natural products, early life stage tests with zebra fish used to detect toxicity of compounds from natural bloom extract on t...
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A Review on the Microbial Contamination in the Non-sterile Pharmaceutical Products
Ghulam Murtaza,
Maqsood Ahmed Khan,
Zeb-Un-Nisa,
Sara Shafiq
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 2, December 2021
Pages:
68-75
Received:
26 October 2021
Accepted:
17 November 2021
Published:
11 December 2021
Abstract: This article aims to review available scientific data dealing with the Microbial contamination that may occur by some environmental factors (temperature, pH, and water activity), these factors are a major problem for the spoilage of pharmaceutical dosage form, and raw material, personnel, and other factor contributing to the transfer of the microbe into the pharmaceutical product. Non-sterile oral pharmaceuticals, including syrups, do not need to be sterile. At the same time, certain quality-control tests and some measures were followed, according to current good manufacture practice (cGMP), which are essential to keep the microbial content of these preparations safe and acceptable. Similarly, may manufacturer failures to comply with the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) at any stage of pharmaceutical production may consequently affect the microbiological quality of the product, and ultimately they caused economical loss for industrialists on the spoilage of pharmaceuticals. Microbial contamination in the pharmaceutical products increases from prescribed limits may change their Physico-chemical properties of the dosage form may be chances to hazardous for the immune-compromised patient due to overload microbial contamination. All the components of the non-sterile pharmaceuticals such as API and all kinds of excipients are at risk due to microbe overloaded and spoilage. Strictly the following (cGMP), continuous pharmaceutical surveillance is required to control microbial contamination within the pharmaceutical preparations.
Abstract: This article aims to review available scientific data dealing with the Microbial contamination that may occur by some environmental factors (temperature, pH, and water activity), these factors are a major problem for the spoilage of pharmaceutical dosage form, and raw material, personnel, and other factor contributing to the transfer of the microbe...
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