Malawi Medical Journal最新文献

{"title":"A rare lesion of breast: Hydatid cyst.","authors":"Sinan Sozutok,&nbsp;Omer Kaya,&nbsp;Huseyin Akkaya,&nbsp;Bozkurt Gulek","doi":"10.4314/mmj.v34i1.12","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v34i1.12","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hydatid cyst (HC) is a lesion most commonly seen in the liver but can occur in many parts of the body. Breast involvement with HC is extremely rare. It can be isolated or accompanied by other organ involvements. In this report, we present a 46-year-old female with isolated HC located in the right breast. In the ultrasonography and MR images of the patient, the lesion was compatible with the HC, and homogenous dens lesion was shown on mammography. Diagnosis of HC was confirmed pathological. With this study, it was aimed to emphasize the radiological findings of isolated breast HC.</p>","PeriodicalId":18185,"journal":{"name":"Malawi Medical Journal","volume":"34 1","pages":"68-70"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/83/8b/MMJ3401-0068.PMC10230583.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9591620","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of a medical doctor in war-thoughts over Russian soldiers and Ukraine.","authors":"Adamson S Muula","doi":"10.4314/mmj.v34i1.1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v34i1.1","url":null,"abstract":"In 1992, I interviewed for both medical school and the Malawi Army to join my country’s medical corps in preparation for a military hospital that was soon to be established. From that time many things changed. Although I graduated from medical school, I did not become a military doctor. I have fond images of what it would have been, had my dreams of joining the uniformed forces of my country come to fruition.","PeriodicalId":18185,"journal":{"name":"Malawi Medical Journal","volume":"34 1","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/a1/66/MMJ3401-0001.PMC10230588.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9591622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antibiotic guideline adherence by Clinicians in medical wards at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH), Blantyre Malawi.","authors":"Grace Thandekire Sibande,&nbsp;Ndaziona Peter Kwanjo Banda,&nbsp;Thandizo Moya,&nbsp;Sylvia Siwinda,&nbsp;Rebecca Lester","doi":"10.4314/mmj.v34i1.2","DOIUrl":"10.4314/mmj.v34i1.2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major concern in health care worldwide. In Malawi rates of AMR, in particular third-generation cephalosporin-resistant (3GC-R) Enterobacterales have rapidly increased since 2003. Antibiotic guidelines are a key component of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). As part of stewardship, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) in Blantyre, Malawi developed an antibiotic guideline in the form of a smart phone application in June 2016.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>We conducted a study to assess clinicians adherence to the local antibiotic guideline on the adult medical wards, two years after it was introduced. Specifically assessing choice of antibiotic, time of blood culture collection and 48-hour review.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional study was carried out using purposive sampling method. 230 case files of adult patients were audited against the antibiotic guideline. Adherence to the guideline in terms of indication for antibiotic, choice of antibiotic and antibiotic review time was reviewed. Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS and presented with descriptive statistics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>194 (84% [95% CI 79.0-88.8]) antibiotic prescriptions were adherent to the guideline, 28 (12% [95% CI 8.2-17.1]) non-adherent and 8 (3.5% [95% CI 1.5-6.7]) antibiotic indication was not clear. The most common indication for antibiotic prescriptions was pneumonia, as documented in 89 (39% [95 % CI 32.4-45.3]) case files. 191(76% [95% CI 70.3-81.2]) of prescriptions were for ceftriaxone. There was evidence of utilising blood culture to adjust therapy as 88/230 (38% [95% CI 32.0-44.9]) had culture taken. 175(76% [95 % CI 70.0-81.4]) of files had antibiotics reviewed within 48 hours.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There is still need to work on rational prescribing of antibiotics as ceftriaxone usage was high during this study period. Scheduled audits and point prevalence surveys should be implemented quickly to reduce the impact of antibiotic resistance and improve individual patient care.</p>","PeriodicalId":18185,"journal":{"name":"Malawi Medical Journal","volume":"34 1","pages":"3-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/81/8d/MMJ3401-0003.PMC10230578.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9594207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of clinically important bacterial pathogens at the Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi.","authors":"Faheema E Choonara,&nbsp;Bjørg C Haldorsen,&nbsp;Isaac Ndhlovu,&nbsp;Osborne Saulosi,&nbsp;Tarsizio Maida,&nbsp;Fanuel Lampiao,&nbsp;Gunnar S Simonsen,&nbsp;Sabiha Y Essack,&nbsp;Arnfinn Sundsfjord","doi":"10.4314/mmj.v34i1.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v34i1.3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The aim of this prospective study was to ascertain antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in clinical bacterial pathogens from in-hospital adult patients at a tertiary hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Clinical specimens (blood culture, pus, urine and cerebrospinal fluid) collected during June to December 2017 were examined for bacterial growth in standard aerobic conditions. One specimen per patient was included. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was performed using the disk diffusion method and interpreted according to EUCAST guidelines.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 694 specimens were collected during the study period, of which 336 (48%) specimen yielded visible bacterial growth. Of the 336 specimens, a total of 411 phenotypically different isolates were recovered. Of the 411 isolates, 84 isolates (20%) were excluded and the remaining 327 (80%) were further characterised. The characterised isolates were identified as ESKAPE pathogens (n=195/327; 60%), <i>Escherichia coli</i> (n=92/327; 28%), <i>Proteus mirabilis</i> (n=33/327; 10) or <i>Salmonella</i> spp. (n=7/327; 2%) and were included for further analysis. The excluded isolates (n=84) comprised of coagulase-negative staphylococci (n=25), streptococci (n=33), and low-prevalence Gram-negative bacilli (n=26). <i>E. coli</i> (n=92; 28%) and <i>S. aureus</i> (n=86; 26%) were the most dominant species. A multidrug resistant (MDR) extended spectrum β- lactamase (ESBL)-positive phenotype was detected in <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (n=20/29; 69%) and <i>E. coli</i> (n=49/92; 53%). One third of the <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> isolates were resistant to meropenem (MEM), but did not appear to be carbapenemase-producers. Methicillin resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA) was molecularly confirmed in 10.5% of <i>S. aureus</i> (n=9/86).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The high proportion of the MDR ESBL-phenotype in clinical isolates of <i>Enterobacterales</i>, strongly limits antimicrobial treatment options and has consequences for empirical and targeted antimicrobial treatment as well as clinical microbiology services and hospital infection control. There is need for a continuous surveillance and an antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) program to contain and prevent the spread of AMR.</p>","PeriodicalId":18185,"journal":{"name":"Malawi Medical Journal","volume":"34 1","pages":"9-16"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/66/d6/MMJ3401-0009.PMC10230581.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9591615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The beneficial effect of <i>Adansonia digitata</i> products success to modulate lipid profiles and inhibit LDL oxidation <i>in-vitro</i>: An associational study.","authors":"Ahmed M Ahmed,&nbsp;Omar F Khabour,&nbsp;Amjad Yousuf,&nbsp;Saber M Eweda,&nbsp;Walaa Mohammedsaeed,&nbsp;Haytham M Daradka,&nbsp;Salwa F M Hassanein,&nbsp;Amna M Ibrahim","doi":"10.4314/mmj.v34i1.5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v34i1.5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>There is a growing interest in medicinal plants in recent years due to their many therapeutic benefits and low side effects. Among the medicinal plants is the African <i>Adansonia digitata</i> (baobab) that has edible fruit. In the current study, the effect of <i>A. digitata</i> juice consumption on the lipid profile was investigated. In addition, inhibition of the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) <i>in-vitro</i> by <i>A. digitata</i> essential oil (EO) was also investigated.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this cohort study, a total of 70 subjects of <i>A. digitata</i> users (AD group, 42 male and 28 female) and 70 non <i>A. digitata</i> users (Non-AD group, 44 male and 26 female) were recruited to participate in this study. We evaluated lipid profile, HbA1c, liver/kidney functions, and phytosterol contents in fasting blood samples of all participants.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The present findings illustrated significantly lower levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL in the AD group compared to Non-AD (p < 0.01). In addition, essential oil of <i>A. digitata</i> inhibited LDL oxidation <i>in-vitro</i> as shown by the significant decreases in the formation of malonaldehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC), and lipid hydroperoxide (LHP) (P<0.05). No significant changes in fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, HDL, kidney function, and liver function enzymes between the two groups were detected (P>0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The juice of <i>A. digitata</i> has hypolipidemic and antioxidative effects and might be beneficial for the management of lipid levels in the body.</p>","PeriodicalId":18185,"journal":{"name":"Malawi Medical Journal","volume":"34 1","pages":"25-30"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/43/4f/MMJ3401-0025.PMC10230582.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9591616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pharmacists' Readiness to Receive, Recommend and Administer COVID-19\" Vaccines.","authors":"Rujittika Mungmunpuntipantip,&nbsp;Viroj Wiwanitkit","doi":"10.4314/mmj.v34i1.13","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v34i1.13","url":null,"abstract":"We would like to share ideas on “Pharmacists’ Readiness to Receive, Recommend and Administer COVID-19 Vaccines in an African Country: An Online Multiple-Practice Settings Survey in Nigeria.” Isah and Ubaka proposed that “most pharmacists are willing to accept to be vaccinated against COVID-19….","PeriodicalId":18185,"journal":{"name":"Malawi Medical Journal","volume":"34 1","pages":"71"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/67/1e/MMJ3401-0071.PMC10230585.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9591619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Socio-demographic characteristics of children and young adults with varied asthma control- does it make a difference?","authors":"Eze N Joy,&nbsp;Ayuk C Adaeze,&nbsp;Ughasoro D Maduka,&nbsp;Oguonu Tagbo","doi":"10.4314/mmj.v34i1.6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v34i1.6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The socioeconomic status and caregiver perception of asthma as a disease, the availability of specialty care and medication adherence have major influence on outcome of asthma control in children with asthma. The control of asthma therefore depends on the optimizing the interplay of these factors taking into consideration the regional and racial variations.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between socio-demographic factors and asthma control outcome in children with asthma.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This was a cross-sectional study involving 66 consecutively enrolled participants with asthma whose economic burden for asthma was assessed in a previous study. Based on the number of registered children attending the clinic, a minimum sample size of 66 calculated for this study was obtained.The participants were consenting children and young adults between the ages of 1 and 20 years. Using standard methods, data on socio-economic status, personal and family demographics, including household number, mothers' educational attainments and employment status; and asthma control were collected and analyzed. Asthma control was assessed using Asthma control test (ACT) and guided by the original developers scoring, participants were grouped into well controlled, partly controlled and uncontrolled. The Chi-square test was used to test for association between participants' socio-demographic characteristics (age, socioeconomic status, mothers' education and employment, and number of children in the household) and asthma control status at 5% level of significance.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of all study participants, 34 (51.55%) were male, with mean age (SD) of 11.6 (4.8) years. The mean (SD) age at initial asthma diagnosis was 6.2 (4.6) years. The majority 49(76.5%) of the mothers had tertiary education. Study participants belonging to the poorest; very poor; poor; and least poor socio-economic cadres were, 16 (24.2%); 17 (25.8%); 17 (25.8%); and 16 (24.2%) respectively. Asthma control classification showed that, 26 (39.4%); 31 (47%) and 9 (13.6%) participants had well controlled asthma, partially controlled asthma and uncontrolled asthma respectively. The factors like age, socioeconomic status, mothers 'educational level, employment status and number of children in the household did not show any statistically significant association with the asthma control status of participants.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Asthma control outcome remains multifactorial as participants' socio-demographic characteristics did not impact on the level of control of asthma, among participants in the south eastern parts of Nigeria, despite being in a LMIC. A larger study is recommended to further explore this.</p>","PeriodicalId":18185,"journal":{"name":"Malawi Medical Journal","volume":"34 1","pages":"31-36"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/26/f6/MMJ3401-0031.PMC10230584.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9591621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Serum antibodies to selected <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> antigens are associated with active gastritis in patients seen at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia.","authors":"Violet Kayamba,&nbsp;Julia Butt,&nbsp;Matthew Gordon Varga,&nbsp;Aaron Shibemba,&nbsp;Maria Blanca Piazuelo,&nbsp;Keith Tucker Wilson,&nbsp;Kanekwa Zyambo,&nbsp;Simutanyi Mwakamui,&nbsp;Chola Mulenga,&nbsp;Tim Waterboer,&nbsp;Meira Epplein,&nbsp;Douglas Corbett Heimburger,&nbsp;Masharip Atadzhanov,&nbsp;Paul Kelly","doi":"10.4314/mmj.v34i1.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v34i1.4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Little is known about specific bacterial characteristics of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (<i>H. pylori</i>) infection influencing gastric carcinogenesis in Zambia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between pre-selected <i>H. pylori</i> antibodies with gastric cancer, premalignant lesions and active gastritis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was cross-sectional study with multiple comparisons of patients with gastric cancer (GC), gastric premalignant (GP) lesions and active or chronic gastritis. A fluorescent bead-based antibody multiplex serology assay was used to quantify antibodies to thirteen immunogenic <i>H. pylori</i> antigens. Logistic regression models were used to examine the associations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Included were 295 patients with: 59 GC, 27 GP lesions, 48 active and 161 chronic gastritis. Overall, 257/295 (87%) were <i>H. pylori</i> positive. <i>H. pylori</i> seropositivity was not associated with sex, age, body mass index, socio-economic status, HIV infection, alcohol consumption or cigarette smoking (p-values all above 0.05). When compared to the patients with chronic gastritis, the presence of catalase and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (Cad) antibodies was positively associated with GP lesions (OR 3.53; 95% CI 1.52-8.17 and OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.08-5.67 respectively). However, seropositivity to Cad antibodies was significantly lower in GC patients (OR 0.28; 95% CI 0.09-0.83). Compared to chronic, active gastritis was significantly associated with (p<0.05) <i>H. pylori</i> sero-positivity (OR 9.46; 95% CI 1.25-71.52) and specific antibodies including cytotoxin-associated gene A, vacuolating cytotoxin A, <i>Helicobacter cysteine</i>-rich protein C, hypothetical protein HP0305 and outer membrane protein HP1564.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Among Zambian patients seen at a single center, antibodies to <i>H. pylori</i> (CagA, VacA, Omp, HcpC, HP0305 and HpaA) were associated with active gastritis.</p>","PeriodicalId":18185,"journal":{"name":"Malawi Medical Journal","volume":"34 1","pages":"17-24"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/7b/7d/MMJ3401-0017.PMC10230586.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10139921","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors affecting the failure of High Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen therapy in Intensive Care follow-up of COVID-19 Severe Respiratory Failure.","authors":"Çiyiltepe Fulya, Kahraman Ersin, Geçici Mehmet, Bilir Yeliz, Bombacı Elif, Saraçoğlu Kemal","doi":"10.4314/mmj.v34i1.7","DOIUrl":"10.4314/mmj.v34i1.7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>Acute respiratory distress syndrome is the primary clinical problem that requires follow-up at the intensive care units. High Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy has become an increasingly popular method by reducing the need for intubation but determining which patient will benefit from High Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy is an important issue.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Seventy patients who followed up with acute respiratory distress syndrome related COVID-19 treated with High Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Systems as initial treatment at the intensive care units were retrospectively review. The primary endpoint of this study is to identify factors correlating with failure (mortality and invasive mechanical ventilator requirement) of High Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy in the treatment of COVID-19-related severe ARDS. The secondary aim of this study is to determine the ROX index measured at the 12th hour, which will indicate the need for intubation in critically ill patients followed up with HFNC.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Advanced age, male gender, and low ROX index were independent variables affecting High Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy failure. While mortality was lowest in patients who completed the process with High Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy treatment, patients who were intubated early (12-24h) had lower mortality than those who were intubated later (>24h) (Mortality rates were %4,3 ,%65,6 ,%93,3 respectively). The cut-off value for ROX index, which will indicate the need for intubation, was found to be 2.84.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>High Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy can be an effective treatment method in the follow-up of patients with COVID-19-related severe respiratory failure. Despite this, the requirement for intubation develops in two third of the patients. Early intubation reduces mortality in patients who fail High Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy, and the easily calculated ROX index is a useful parameter to determine the need for intubation.</p>","PeriodicalId":18185,"journal":{"name":"Malawi Medical Journal","volume":"34 1","pages":"37-42"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/36/4e/MMJ3401-0037.PMC10230580.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9594206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Malawian pharmaceutical response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.","authors":"Baxter Kachingwe,&nbsp;Peter Kumpalume,&nbsp;Felix Khuluza,&nbsp;Kumbukani Nyirenda,&nbsp;Ernest Matambo,&nbsp;John Mponda,&nbsp;Nettie Dzabala,&nbsp;Francis Chiumia,&nbsp;Ibrahim Chikowe,&nbsp;Frider Chimimba,&nbsp;Nelson Nyoloka,&nbsp;Louisa Alfazema,&nbsp;Happy Nyirongo,&nbsp;Dallas Smith","doi":"10.4314/mmj.v34i1.11","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v34i1.11","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic has elicited swift and innovative responses due to the severity of the outbreak. Higher education institutions worldwide with pharmacy programs have identified vital gaps in COVID-19 care and has undertaken proactive steps to aid in the fight against the coronavirus. In Malawi, the Kamuzu University of Health Science's Department of Pharmacy initiated the production of a modified formulation of the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended hand sanitizer. This manufacturing venture involved mobilizing the pharmacy faculty, identifying gaps in supplies and equipment, and utilizing evidenced-based information to create a high-quality sanitation product, which passed the requirements as tested by the Malawi Bureau of Standards. The department of pharmacy is expanding their distribution of the product to meet the needs of frontline healthcare workers and vulnerable populations. With historical issues of accessing care in Malawi and with COVID-19's spread among healthcare workers, this hand sanitizer venture is vital in the public healthcare's system response. The department of pharmacy will continue to lead the pharmacy profession in Malawi to provide targeted interventions in this unprecedented time.</p>","PeriodicalId":18185,"journal":{"name":"Malawi Medical Journal","volume":"34 1","pages":"60-62"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/48/c0/MMJ3401-0060.PMC10230587.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9591618","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}