Assessment of Knowledge of Medical Students on an Important Health Issue Neagleria Flowri Infection at a Medical College of Karachi, Pakistan

Syed Ijlal Ahmed,Syeda Beenish Bareeqa,Saad Qureshi,Sara Memon,Samra Khan,Munazza Suherwardy Obaid

doi:10.13189/ujph.2017.050302

Abstract

Background: Since 2005 Neagleria Flowri infection appeared as a major health issue in Karachi, Pakistan. Most infections were acquired due to swimming in fresh water, ablution with fresh stagnant water. Our objective was to assess the knowledge of medical students regarding this important health issue and to highlight any deficiencies in medical education system. Material and methods: It was a prospective cross sectional study conducted at a medical college of Karachi, Pakistan. The sample size was calculated and sampling technique was randomized stratified sampling. Knowledge of the students was assessed through designed questionnaire. The data was recorded and analyzed on SPSS vs 21. Results: Our study included 250 medical students from five years of medical school. The highest response was recorded from final year regarding type of organism and habitat. Regarding treatment of Naegleria most correct response was from 4th year MBBS. Most final years answered correctly regarding the ablution as risk factor. The knowledge of medical students regarding incubation period of Neagleria was generally low. Conclusion: The knowledge of medical students regarding this significant medical issue appears low. The response of medical students was generally poor regarding treatment of infection, incubation period of infection and earliest presenting symptom of infection. Important measures should be taken to improve the knowledge of medical students regarding this significant health issue.

Highlights

Naegleria Flowri, a pathogenic and opportunistic free-living amoebae, is an aerobic, mitochondriate, eukaryotic protozoa that occurs world-wide and causes an acute, fulminant, necrotizing and hemorrhagic meningoencephalitis called Primary Ameobic Meningeoencephalitis (PAM)* that may be fatal in immune-competent individuals with a history of recent contact with fresh water [1].Infections can occur when N
The objective of our study is to evaluate the awareness of Neagleria Flowri infection among medical students which is a significant health issue in Pakistan
The highest correct response regarding the type of organism was from final year MBBS which was 44(91.7%)

Summary

Introduction

Naegleria Flowri, a pathogenic and opportunistic free-living amoebae, is an aerobic, mitochondriate, eukaryotic protozoa that occurs world-wide and causes an acute, fulminant, necrotizing and hemorrhagic meningoencephalitis called Primary Ameobic Meningeoencephalitis (PAM)* that may be fatal in immune-competent individuals with a history of recent contact with fresh water [1].Infections can occur when N. Majority of the cases have occurred in the United States, infections have been documented in countries throughout the world. The first case of PAM in Italy, was diagnosed through a postmortem in a healthy child who had possibly acquired the infection after swimming in puddle of stagnant river water [3]. Since 2005 Neagleria Flowri infection appeared as a major health issue in Karachi, Pakistan. The knowledge of medical students regarding incubation period of Neagleria was generally low. Conclusion: The knowledge of medical students regarding this significant medical issue appears low. The response of medical students was generally poor regarding treatment of infection, incubation period of infection and earliest presenting symptom of infection. Important measures should be taken to improve the knowledge of medical students regarding this significant health issue

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Conclusion