Medical Concepts

 HOSPITAL ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA Definition: "HAP refers to a new episode of pneumonia occurring at least 2 days after the administration to hospital. It is the most common Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI) and leading cause of HAI-associated death". Predisposing factors: Aspiration of nasopharyngeal secretion Bacteria introduced into the lower GIT. Bacteriaemia Old age Mode of Spread:  Droplet infection Infecting agent: Bacteria: S.pneumonia , S.aureus , H.influenza Virus: Adenovirus, Corona virus, Herpes Simplex Clinical Features: Purulent sputum New radiological infiltrates Temperature > 38 degree Celsius Leukocytosis Investigations: Chest Pain:  to confirm the diagnosis and exclude complication. Pulse Oximetry : to monitor response to oxygen therapy, if SaO2 < 93% features of sever pneumonia, identify ventilatory failure or acidosis. Cell count:  ESR, Neutrophil leukocytosis Microbiological studies:  for severe CAP and those that do not respond to initial therapy (Gr

MANAGEMENT OF GASTRO-ESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE  "GERD refers to the endoscopically determined esophagitis or endoscopy-negative reflux disease" . "GERD is the term used to describe any symptomatic clinical condition or histopathological alteration resulting from episodes of reflux of acid, pepsin and occasionally, bile into the esophagus from the stomach". Patients with uninvestigated "reflux-like" symptoms should be managed as patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia. There is currently no evidence that H.pylori should be investigated in patients with GERD. Symptoms: Heartburn is the characteristic symptom of GERD. Acid regurgitation Dysphagia Belching Upper abdominal discomfort Bloating and postprandial fullness Chest pain Hoarseness Cough Complications include: Esophageal ulceration Formation of specialized columnar-lined esophagus at the gastro-esophageal junction known as Barretts Esophagus . Mechanism of Acid Reflux: The mechanism of acid reflux is mu

MANAGEMENT FOR H.PYLORI ERADICATION It is known that H.pylori infection is associated with over 90% of duodenal ulcers and 80% of Gastric Ulcers. Antibiotics alone or acid-suppressing agents alone, do not eradicate H.pylori . Both therapies act synergistically as growth of the organism occurs at elevated pH and antibiotics efficacy is enhanced during growth. Additionally, increasing intragastric pH may enhance antibiotic absorption. High eradication rates are achieved by a short course of Triple Therapy consisting of:            1 .PPI                                         2. Clarithromycin                         3. Amoxicillin/Metronidazole          in a twice recommended simultaneous regimen. First-Line Therapy :  European Guidelines recommended 1 week of therapy, whereas the US Guidelines recommend 10-14 days of therapy and achieve 7-9% better eradication rates.     OCA : Omeprazole(20mg), Clarithromycin (500mg) and Amoxicillin (1g)