My Scientific Blog - Research and Articles

Saturday, April 30, 2022

Importance of Vaccination

Reference: https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/routine-vaccinations-during-pandemic-benefit-or-risk

Manuscript accepted in TUJM

Microbial quality analysis of panipuri samples collected from different parts of Bhaktapur

Punam Ghimire¹, Sujata Khand¹, Bhawana Chaulagain¹, Ashish Siwakoti¹, Dinesh Dhakal¹, Upendra Thapa Shrestha² *

¹Sainik Awasiya Mahavidhyalaya (affiliated to Tribhuvan University) Sallaghari, Bhaktapur

²Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal

*Corresponding Author: Upendra Thapa Shrestha, Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Email: upendra.thapashrestha@cdmi.tu.edu.np / upendrats@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The study was aimed to identify potential bacterial pathogens from the panipuri samples collected from different vendors of Bhaktapur district and determine their antibiogram patterns.

Methods: Altogether 120 (40 puri, 40 stuffing and 40 pani) samples of panipuri were collected from different vendors of Bhaktapur district in a cold chain and were transported to the microbiology laboratory. Puri and stuffing were then pre-enriched, enriched and cultured while pani samples were processed using the MPN method. All the isolates were identified following standard microbiological procedure and subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing following CLSI guidelines.

Results: The result revealed contamination of 77.5% stuffing, 67.5% puri and 52.5% pani samples with pathogenic bacteria. Among bacterial pathogens, the highest number was Staphylococcus aureus followed by Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. 100% of S. aureus were found to be resistant to ampicillin and novobiocin. Similarly, 94.1% of E. coli were resistant to ampicillin followed by ciprofloxacin (64.7%). A very few isolates of Salmonella spp, Shigella spp and Vibrio spp were resistant to tetracycline. The highest number of multidrug-resistant bacteria were S. aureus, followed by Klebsiella spp and E. coli.

Conclusion: The study showed that the panipuri samples from street vendors were found to be highly contaminated with pathogenic bacteria which might affect consumers’ health. Thus, to prevent any food-borne illness in the future, frequent evaluation and regulation of the quality of such foods should be carried out.

Keywords: Street foods, panipuri, bacterial pathogens, antimicrobial-resistant, multidrug-resistant

Thursday, March 31, 2022

Vaccine updates for COVID-19

Need to update more...

Just for reading

There are several COVID-19 vaccines validated for use by WHO (given Emergency Use Listing). The first mass vaccination programme started in early December 2020 and the number of vaccination doses administered is updated on a daily basis on the COVID-19 dashboard.

The WHO Emergency Use Listing process determines whether a product can be recommended for use based on all the available data on safety and efficacy and on its suitability in low- and middle-income countries. Vaccines are assessed to ensure they meet acceptable standards of quality, safety and efficacy using clinical trial data, manufacturing and quality control processes. The assessment weighs the threat posed by the emergency as well as the benefit that would accrue from the use of the product against any potential risks.

In line with their national regulations and legislation, countries have the autonomy to issue emergency use authorizations for any health product. Domestic emergency use authorizations are issued at the discretion of countries and not subject to WHO approval.

As of 12 January 2022, the following vaccines have obtained EUL: