Background: Antibiotic resistance (ABR) is a worldwide problem and Bangladesh is a major contributor to this owing to its poor healthcare standards, along with the misuse and overuse of antibiotics. This systematic review was conducted to summarize the present scenario of ABR in Bangladesh, to identify gaps in surveillance, and to provide recommendations based on the findings. Methods: Google Scholar, PubMed, and Bangladesh Journals Online were searched using relevant keywords to identify articles related to ABR in Bangladesh published between 2004 and 2018. Inclusion or exclusion was based on a predefined set of criteria. The resistance of a bacterium to a given drug was presented as the median resistance (MR) and interquartile range (IQR). Results: Forty-six articles were included in this systematic review. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion method in 82.6% of studies, while the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines were followed in 78.3%. Data regarding the susceptibility testing method, guidelines for interpretation, and source of infection (hospital/community) were absent in 10.9%, 19.6%, and 73.9% of the studies, respectively. A high prevalence of resistance was detected in most tested pathogens, and many of the common first-line drugs were mostly ineffective. Resistance to carbapenems was low in most cases. The presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms was indicated by the high resistance to beta-lactams. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was identified in four studies. Three studies reported vancomycin susceptibility of enterococci, and the median susceptibility was 100%. Streptococcus pneumoniae exhibited high susceptibility to penicillin (MR 4%). Resistance data were available from only six out of the 64 districts of Bangladesh. Conclusions: A high prevalence of resistance to most antibiotics was detected, along with major gaps in surveillance and information gaps in the methodological data of the studies (susceptibility testing method, guidelines for susceptibility interpretation, source of infection). Based on the findings, we recommend appropriate initiatives to monitor and control the use of antibiotics, as well as nationwide surveillance following standardized methodologies.

Introduction: A single blind study was performed to find out the safe period for using the home made turmeric gels kept under normal condition on three types of customized formulations namely F1, F2 and F3. In this study, an economic preparation of turmeric gel with its safe period of use was proposed. F1 was formulated with preservatives (methyl paraben and propyl parabens in the ratio of 1:3), F2 was formulated with anti-oxidants (4 pieces of vitamin C tablets containing 250mg of ascorbic acid and 6 pieces of Vitamin E capsules each with potency 200IU). F3 was formulated without preservatives and antioxidants. In the study, samples (n=5 of each formulation) were investigated for organoleptic and physical properties including skin reactivity for 45 days by 15 volunteers. Methodology: Our results showed that the preparations did not show any remarkable changes in color, after feel effect, grittiness and smoothness, stickiness, filming & spread ability along with wash ability within 30 days. pH of formulations remained the same over 45 days and pH of F2 was found below 5 and other 2 formulations are found 7.4. In the study, gel syneresis and gel swelling was investigated. Syneresis is exudation of fluid and swelling is taking up of adjacent liquid. Results showed both the phenomenon were absent for F1 and F2; but one sample of F3 showed gel swelling after 30 days although that sample did not show gel syneresis. Regarding skin reactivity, F2 and F3 did not show any reaction; but F1 did. One F1 sample showed skin reaction within 5 minutes after application. In current study microbial tests were carried out on F1, F2, F2 (fortified) and F3. Please note that for formulations F2 (fortified), the amount of each of the antioxidants was doubled. Microbial study results were expressed as 'cfu'/ml at a dilution of 10 5. Results and conclusion: Results are shown in table 4 and it shows for F1 'cfu' was too few to count up to a period of 21 days and beyond this period 'cfu' value became too many to count stating safe period of using of this formulation at home was 21 days. While for F2 the 'cfu' count was in a range of (2.56-2.70)X10 8 up to a period of 14 days and beyond this period count became too many to count stating safe period of using this formulation at home was 14 days. On the other hand, F2 (fortified) showed microbial count comparable to F1. For F2 (fortified) the 'cfu' count was (1.75-1.84)X10 8 up to a period of 21 days. Beyond this period count became too many to count. Therefore, safe period of domestic use for F2 (fortified) was 21 days. In the study, F3 preparation showed numerous microbial growth beyond two days stating safe period of use at home was only 2 days.