Abstract Objective: To compare the outcome in terms of mean time to disappearance of cough, wheezing, crackles and length of hospital stay in patients treated with sodium chloride 3% with sodium chloride 0.9% as nebulisation diluent in children for suffering from bronchiolitis. Methods: The prospective study was conducted at the Department of Paediatric Medicine Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from November 2014 to April 2015, and comprised children aged between 6 weeks and 24 months having bronchiolitis. Group A received 3% sodium chloride and Group B received 0.9% of the same solution. Duration of cough, wheezing, crackles and duration of stay at hospital were compared between the groups. Data was analysed using SPSS 17. Results: Of the 100 patients, there were 50(50%) in Group A with a mean age of 7.17±4.46, and as many in Group B with a mean age of 6.6±3.74. Overall, there were 55(55%) boys and 45(45%) girls. Mean cough and wheezing remission time as well as length of hospital stay was significantly different between the groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: In children having bronchiolitis, 3% saline as nebuliser solution was found to be more effective than 0.9% saline solution. Key Words: 3% saline solution, Bronchiolitis, Wheezing, Crepitations, Hospital stay.

AIMS Evidence-based management and local antibiotic susceptibility pattern provides evidence to guide the development of urinary tract infection (UTI) treatments protocols decreasing the economic burden significantly. We aimed to investigate the aetiology and resistance pattern of bacterial uropathogens to commonly prescribed oral antibiotics (beta lactamase and fluoroquinolones) causing UTI and to recommend the most appropriate antibiotics. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study is cross sectional, retrospective study. We evaluated causative agents and antimicrobial resistance in urine, culture positive samples collected from July 2019 to June 2021 in a single hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. To obtain urine samples, a midstream clean-catch method used in children who were toilet trained and transurethral catheterization performed in non-toilet-trained children. Urine samples were sent to the laboratory where they were inoculated using a 4 mm calibre loop on CLED (Cysteine Lactose Electrolyte Deficient) agar plate, and incubated at 37 °C for 18–24 h. Conventional methods (colony morphology, Gram stain) were opted. Different biochemical tests – catalase test, coagulase test and inoculation in Bile Esculin Agar was done for Gram-positive organisms, while Triple Sugar Indole (TSI) agar, Sulphide indole motility (SIM) agar, Simon's citrate agar and Christensen's urea agar were used for identification of Gram-negative bacilli. Significant growth was evaluated as ≥105 colony forming units (CFU)/ml of urine. Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used to perform in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility tests in Mueller-Hinton agar plates. Total 13 drugs were tested for sensitivity pattern. To analyse resistance to antibiotics for different ages, subjects were divided into four age groups: Group I, 2 months - 1 year; Group II, 1 year - 5 year; Group III, 5 year - 10 year; Group IV, 10 year - 15 year. RESULTS Among 970 samples sent, a total of 230 positive urine cultures were identified, of which 116 (50.4%) were from girls and 114 (49.6%) were from boys. The most common age group was 2 months to 1 year (49.1%). The most common causative agent was Escherichia coli (49.1%) followed by Enterococcus faecalis (14.3%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (11.3%). The overall resistance to Nalidixic acid (66%), Ceftriaxone (54.8%) Cefotaxime (48.3%) Ciprofloxacin (47.9%) and Co-trimoxazole (46.9%) was significant. The least resistance was for Chloramphenicol, Nitrofurantoin, and Norfloxacin was 9.5 %, 31.5 %, and 38.3 % respectively. Chloramphenicol (90.5%) was the most active agent against E. coli and Klebsiella, whereas Linezolid (92.7%) and cloxacillin (64.9%) was most active against Enterococcus and Staphylococcus species. CONCLUSION Escherichia coli was the most common causative agent of urinary tract infection in children. Nalidixic acid, Ceftriaxone, Cefotaxime, Ciprofloxacin and Co-trimoxazole had the highest resistance rates against urinary tract pathogens in our centre. For oral empirical antibiotic therapy, Chloramphenicol is the most appropriate choice for Escherichia coli and Klebsiella strains and Linezolid for Enterococcus species.

Background: COVID-19 is an emerging disease that has been creating global havoc. Since it was a newly emerged disease, only a little information was known at the initial phase. Later, correct information and prevention measures were provided throughout the globe via a different outlet, but the prevailing myths and misconceptions still followed. Objective: To assess the role of mass media on knowledge and perception related to COVID-19 among the students. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to identify the role of mass media in shaping the knowledge and perception related to COVID-19 among the students of Bharatpur, Chitwan. Samples were selected by using a stratified random sampling method and data was collected by using self-administered structured questionnaires and IBM SPSS was used for analysis in descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Out of the 103 respondents, 13.6% were male and 86.5% were females, 86.4 % were age more than 23years. Among which, 88.8% used mass media for obtaining information where 67.3% used it daily and the most preferable media was social media (70.4%). Similarly, 74.8% of respondents had fair knowledge, (15.5%) respondents had good knowledge, and 97.1% of the respondents had a positive perception regarding Covid-19. Respondent’s most preferable media (social media) was significantly associated with the level of knowledge of the respondents (p=0.047). Conclusion: The study concludes that the respondents had positive perceptions, but the knowledge level was more fair knowledge and very limited good knowledge, which signifies that there is still a need for awareness programs, campaigns, and other educational interventions.  Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 9, Issue-2: 75-82.

Effectiveness of health care package on risk factors and prevention of neonatal hypothermia in low birth weight babies in terms of knowledge and practice of postnatal mothers in a selected hospital of Nepal.