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Effectiveness of disinfectants used by hospitals
other government institutions and general public in Zimbabwe
Majaya, W. and Conibear, S.
Eight disinfectant products used by hospital,
other government institutions and the general public in Zimbabwe were tested
for their effectiveness, each against a selected resistant test organism.
The disinfectants were tested at the following concentrations: i) the concentration
recommended for use by the manufacturer. ii) half the recommended concentration
and iii) one and half times the recommended concentration. The tests were
carried out under simulated in-use conditions. The results obtained showed
that six of the disinfectants were not effective at the concentration used.
One disinfectant was effective only under part of the in-use conditions.
Only one product was completely effective.
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Pictorial labelling of dispensed medicines
- systems available and patient compliance
Ndlovu, T. and Morton, D.
This project present the results of a
study designed to evaluate the usefulness of pictorial or graphic labels
in assisting patients to understand how and when to take medication. The
study was carried out at Pumula Clinic in Bulawayo and 76 patients were
used in the project. About half the patients were used in the project.
About half the patients were given pictograms in addition to the normal
written instruction plus the oral counselling. The compliance was then
measured by the number of tablets remaining when the patients were visited
at home; this was compared to the number of tablets expected. The result
of the project indicate that there was a significant improvement in the
understanding and the compliance of patients who were given pictorial labels.
It can be concluded that pictorial labels are useful in improving patients
compliance but is should be pointed out that symbolic prescription labels
should be evaluated before their use to ensure patients understand them.
Pictorial instructions, when used, should also be accompanied by verbal
reinforcement.
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In vivo bioavailability studies on sustained
release propranolol capsules
Ndubiwa, S. and Froese, E.
The bioavailability of two propranolol
long-acting products -Inderal LA and Rexigen LA was compared in six patients
with moderate hypertension. One patient was withdrawn from the trial after
the first half of the experimental because she developed bradycardia. Blood
samples were withdrawn at pre-determined intervals and centrifuged to separate
the plasma and the red blood cells. The plasma was then assayed for propranolol
using the automated liquid chromatography technique. The sampling times
were as follows: 0 hours, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours,
6 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours , 16 hours and 24 hours after ingestion of the
capsules. This projects carried out because of the obvious advantage of
improved patient compliance with once-daily dosing. This is what has led
to the formulation of long-acting beta-blockers. Acceptance of these formulations
requires careful evaluation of their efficacy over 24 hours; and demonstration
of their superiority over other standard preparations. The desired therapeutic
range is 50-100ng/ml. Rexigen levels were within and above this range in
all patients. With Inderal only two patients had levels above 50ng/ml.
Rexigen does not seem to release the drug in the manner of a sustained
release preparation. It unloads the drug into the system giving a high
peak, after that levels are maintained above 50ng/ml probably because so
much drug has to be metabolised. Inderal has the desired plateau although
this at a sub-therapeutic level.
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