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Nosocomial infections are infections acquired in hospital or healthcare service unit that first appear 48 hours or more after hospital admission or within 30 days after discharge following in-patient care. The main routes of transmission of nosocomial infections are contact, airborne, common vehicle and vector borne.

This study attempts to estimate the rate of inflation in Pakistan by the stochastic approach to index numbers by allowing systematic changes in relative prices. This approach provides not only point estimate but also confidence interval for the rate of inflation. There are two types of approaches to index number theory namely: the functional economic approaches and the stochastic approach. The attraction of stochastic approach is that it estimates the rate of inflation in which uncertainty and statistical ideas play a major roll of screening index numbers We use CPI data covering the period July 2001--March 2008 for Pakistan and find that if prices of individual commodities are widely dispersed then the level of uncertainty for measuring the rate of inflation will be very high. We find that the rate of inflation was changing significantly from month to month and by applying stochastic approach to index numbers we gained some level of confidence that our estimated range will contain the true parameter of the rate of inflation.

BACKGROUND:Cryptosporidium has emerged as one of the major parasitic agents as a cause of diarrhoea in children. Various epidemiological factors have been described by different workers. Aims: This study was done to determine different epidemiological factors incriminated in cryptosporidiosis. Methods: Stool samples from 240 children with diarrhoea were examined for presence of Cryptosporidium. Wet mount examination, modified ZiehlNeelsen (Z.N.) and Safranine-methylene blue staining methods were performed. For 177 samples, ELISA was also done. Detailed history of patients regarding their socioeconomic status and various sociodemographic factors was taken. Statistical Analysis: Chi-square and z tests were used to compare differences between the groups. A p value of ≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: Majority of patients were in Class IV socioeconomic group. Top-feeding, use of insanitary wells for drinking purposes, close association with animals, field defaecation and residence in rural areas were different factors that contributed to the spread of infection. Oocysts were present in 21 children on different staining procedures and 23 were positive by ELISA. Conclusion: Different sociodemographic factors like improper sanitation practices, drinking contaminated water, early withdrawal of breast feeding and close intimacy with animals are various factors that can enhance the spread of infection in community. Preventive measures are of great importance in control of spread of infection as there is no specific therapy for cryptosporidiosis.