Advances in Medicine
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Emerging Challenges in Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infections: Insights from Coagulase Typing, Toxin Genes, and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns

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Advances in Medicine publishes original research articles and review articles on recent advances in medicine and related disciplines. The journal focuses on diagnostic and imaging techniques, as well as drug design and development.

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Advances in Medicine maintains an Editorial Board of practicing researchers from around the world, to ensure manuscripts are handled by editors who are experts in the field of study.

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Research Article

Seroconversion and Prevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen among Vaccinated Health Care Workers in Ashanti Region, Ghana

Background. Health care workers (HCWs) constantly stand at a high risk of exposure to the hepatitis B virus because of the nature of their work. Hence, it is mandatory for HCWs to undergo hepatitis B vaccination. However, most HCWs in Ghana do not check their HBsAb titre after completion of their primary vaccination. This study assessed the prevalence of HBsAg and the seroconversion rate among vaccinated health care workers in the Ashanti Region, Ghana. Materials and Methods. A semistructured open-ended questionnaire was pretested and administered to 424 HCWs. Two (2) ml of blood was drawn and qualitative analyses (HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBeAb, and HBcAb) were done on the blood samples. Samples that tested positive to HBsAb were quantified using ELISA. Data obtained were analysed using GraphPad Prism 9. Results. Out of the 424 study participants, 271 (63.9%) were females and 153 (36.1%) were males. Seroconversion (≥1 mIU/mL) and seroprotection (≥10 mIU/mL) through vaccination only among study participants were 67.5% (n/N  = 286/424) and 58.0% (n/N  = 246/424), respectively. Prevalence of hepatitis B viral infection was 2.4% (n/N  = 10/424). Anti-HBc seropositivity was 13.2%, and anti-HBs seronegativity was 24.1%. 2.4% (n/N  = 10/424) of study participants were negative to HBsAg but positive to HBcAb. In addition, 8.5% (n/N = 36/424) of the study participants were seroprotected due to exposure and recovery from previous HBV infection. Age, the number of doses received, taking a booster dose, and keeping a vaccination record card were significant factors influencing seroconversion status. Conclusion. This study reaffirms the need for HCWs to undergo a supervised primary hepatitis B vaccination course. Postvaccination serological testing should be done for all HWCs to confirm immunity and reduce their chances of contracting HBV infection.

Review Article

Nursing Documentation Practices and Related Factors in Patient Care in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. Ineffective nursing documentation practices have been reported to negatively impact patient outcomes and health professional efficiency. On the prevalence of nurses’ documentation practices in Ethiopia, several separate studies have been carried out. However, there is no pooled prevalence of nurses’ documentation practice. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the overall prevalence of nursing care documentation practice and related factors in Ethiopia. Methods and Materials. This review only included articles that were published. The main databases were Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, Ethiopian University Repository Online, and the Cochrane Library. Cross-sectional studies that satisfy the criteria and are written in English are included in the review. Using a random effects model, the pooled prevalence of nurses’ documentation practices was determined. The funnel plot and the Eggers test were also used to look into publication bias. All statistical analyses were done with STATA version 14. Result. This review included nine studies with a total of 2,900 participants. The pooled prevalence of nurses’ documentation practice in Ethiopia was 50.01% (95% CI: 42.59 and 57.18; I2 = 93.8%; and ). In terms of subgroup analysis, Addis Ababa had the highest prevalence of nurses’ documentation practice at 84% (95% CI: 77.18 and 90.82), while Southern Ethiopia had the lowest at 40.00% (95% CI: 38.10 and 44.90). Nursing documentation practices were statistically associated with the availability of nursing documentation formats, adequate nurse-to-patient ratio, motivation, and training. Conclusion. This review showed that one in two nurses practiced poor documentation of their daily activities in Ethiopia. Therefore, strict monitoring, evaluation, and supervision of nursing care documentation services are highly recommended for all stakeholders. We strongly recommend improving the identified factors by arranging training for nurses, motivating them, providing adequate documentation formats, and maintaining a nurse-to-patient ratio.

Research Article

Associated Biochemical and Hematological Markers in COVID-19 Severity Prediction

Background. The global threat of COVID-19 has created the need for researchers to investigate the disease’s progression, especially through the use of biomarkers to inform interventions. This study aims to assess the correlations of laboratory parameters to determine the severity of COVID-19 infection. Methods. This study was conducted among 191 COVID-19 patients in Sumeru Hospital, Lalitpur, Nepal. According to their clinical outcomes, these patients were divided into severe and nonsevere groups. Inflammatory markers such as LDH, D-dimer, CRP, ferritin, complete blood cell count, liver function tests, and renal function tests were performed. Binary logistic regression analysis determined relative risk factors associated with severe COVID-19. The area under the curve (AUC) was calculated with ROC curves to assess the potential predictive value of risk factors. Results. Out of 191 patients, 38 (19.8%) subjects died due to COVID-19 complications, while 156 (81.7%) survived and were discharged from hospital. The COVID-19 severity was found in patients with older age and comorbidities such as CKD, HTN, DM, COPD, and pneumonia. Parameters such as d-dimer, CRP, LDH, SGPT, neutrophil, lymphocyte count, and LMR were significant independent risk factors for the severity of the disease. The AUC was highest for d-dimer (AUC = 0.874) with a sensitivity of 82.2% and specificity of 81.2%. Similarly, the cut-off values for other factors were age >54.5 years, D-dimer >0.91 ng/ml, CRP >82.4 mg/dl, neutrophil >78.5%, LDH >600 U/L, and SGPT >35.5 U/L, respectively. Conclusion. Endorsement of biochemical and hematological parameters with their cut-off values also aids in predicting COVID-19 severity. The biomarkers such as D-dimer, CRP levels, LDH, ALT, and neutrophil count could be used to predict disease severity. So, timely analysis of these markers might allow early prediction of disease progression.

Research Article

Outbreak of Serratia marcescens in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mexico

Introduction. We describe an outbreak of Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens) infection in the neonatal intensive care unit at Women’s Hospital in Sinaloa, Mexico. Methods. In April 2021, an outbreak of S. marcescens infection was identified. A case was identified as any patient who tested positive for S. marcescens and showed signs of an infectious process. Results. S. marcescens was isolated from the blood cultures of 15 neonates with clinical signs of neonatal sepsis. Statistical analysis showed that all neonates had an invasive medical device. The problem was controlled after hospital hygiene and sanitation measures were strengthened. Conclusion. The study provides evidence of an outbreak of nosocomial bacteremia due to the cross-transmission of S. marcescens. The findings highlight the need for hospitals to implement strict hygiene measures, especially regarding hand washing, to prevent future outbreaks.

Review Article

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for Chronic Weight Management

Rates of obesity have risen over the past few decades. Subsequently, the popularity of the pharmaceutical weight-loss drug market has grown over the past few years to meet growing demand. Among the most commonly prescribed drugs for weight management, many are glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 agonists) which are also utilized for the management of type 2 diabetes. There is a substantial and growing body of research comparing the efficacy of different clinical trials and examining long-term safety. This literature review examines the rise of off-label prescribing practices in the management of weight, with a focus on GLP-1 agonists. Physicians and patients should be aware of the unique aspects of existing treatment options, the impacts of off-label prescribing, and the effects of these medications. This review emphasizes the importance of informed decision-making, as well as the need for further research to guide future clinical practice.

Research Article

Prevalence of Undiagnosed Hypertension and Associated Factors among Adults in Mizan-Aman Town, Bench Sheko Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and associated factors among people aged 18 years and above in Mizan-Aman town of Bench Sheko Zone in Southwest Ethiopia. Study Design. A community-based cross-sectional study design was carried out among people aged 18 years old and above from April 1 to 30, 2021, in Mizan Aman town. Methods. A community-based cross-sectional study design was carried out among people aged 18 years old and above from April 1 to 30, 2021, in Mizan Aman town. Seven hundred fifty-nine subjects were selected by the multistage sampling technique. A structured pretested STEPwise questionnaire was used to interview the participants. Data entry and analysis were done using EpiData 3.1 and SPSS version 25 statistical software, respectively. Descriptive analysis was undertaken, and the results were presented using frequency tables, graphs, and statistical summaries. The dependent variable has a dichotomized response of yes and no, and hence binary logistic regression was used to predict a dependent variable based on independent variables, and predictors having on the bivariable analysis were considered as candidates for the multivariable analysis. Odds ratios with their 95% confidence intervals were calculated to measure the strength of association, and finally a value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result. The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension was 14.8% with 95% CI [12.3–15.6]. Older age (AOR = 3.1, 95% CI [1.5–6.5]), male (AOR = 2.2, 95% CI [1.3–3.9]), low physical activity (AOR = 3.9, 95% CI [1.8–8.3]), low consumption of fruit and vegetable (AOR = 4.5, 95% CI [2.4–8.8]), and higher BMI (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI [1.6–4.6]) were significantly associated with undiagnosed hypertension. Conclusion. The current study outlined that the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension was high in the study area. In addition, most of the risk factors identified were modifiable, and hence community-based preventive approaches like lifestyle modification, increasing awareness, and strengthening routine screening at primary health service facilities resulted in a substantial change in tackling the burden effectively.

Advances in Medicine
 Journal metrics
See full report
Acceptance rate8%
Submission to final decision110 days
Acceptance to publication10 days
CiteScore-
Journal Citation Indicator-
Impact Factor-
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