Background Mycetoma is an important neglected tropical disease associated with debilitation, disf... more Background Mycetoma is an important neglected tropical disease associated with debilitation, disfigurement and death if not diagnosed and treated adequately. In Pakistan, mycetoma cases have frequently been diagnosed in histopathology and microbiology laboratories. However, there is scarcity of published data from this country. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the frequency and type of mycetoma reported in skin and soft tissue biopsies from a single center over 10 years and review of published literature from Pakistan. Method This descriptive observational retrospective study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital laboratory, Karachi, Pakistan. Laboratory data from 2009–2018 of skin and soft tissue biopsies with positive findings of mycetoma were retrieved from hospital information system. The variables for statistical analysis were age and gender of patient, anatomical site of lesion, residence of patient (geographical location) in the country, et...
IntroductionQuality-assured antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) depends upon the knowledge... more IntroductionQuality-assured antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) depends upon the knowledge and skills of laboratory staff. In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Pakistan, such types of knowledge and skills are limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to use openaccess online courses to improve the knowledge of laboratory staff involved in the detection and reporting of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).MethodologySeven online modules comprising 22 courses aimed at strengthening the laboratory detection of Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) were developed. The courses were uploaded onto the websitewww.parn.org.pk. Participants had an option of selecting courses of their interest. Online registration and completion of a pre-course assessment (pre-test) were essential for enrolment. However, participation in post-course assessment (post-test) was optional. The number of registered participants and the proportion of participants who completed each course...
OBJECTIVE To assess the strategies and outcome for reducing blood culture contamination in order ... more OBJECTIVE To assess the strategies and outcome for reducing blood culture contamination in order to improve the diagnosis of bacteraemia. METHODS The interventional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2016. The blood culture contamination data related to the first year of the study was taken as the baseline pre-intervention data. Strategies were planned as intervention for improvement by consolidating training and education in the form of dedicated lectures, practising on mannequins and developing in-house video, replacing povidone with 2% chlorhexidine preparation spray plus 70% isopropyl alcohol swabs and inducting dedicated phlebotomy team whose only responsibility was blood sample collection and minimising the probability of error. RESULTS In 2013, there were 8868 samples; 7402 in 2014; 6897 in 2015; and 9756 samples in 2016. The contamination rate in 2013 was 8% which went down to 7.75% in 2014, 4.25% in 2015 and 3.9% in 2016. The decline became statistically significant (p<0.001) after implementing a dedicated phlebotomy team in the emergency department. CONCLUSIONS Apart from teaching and training, the concept of blood culture collection kit with checklist and dedicated blood collection team was found to be vital in reducing blood culture contamination.
Antimicrobial resistance and infection control, 2017
Limited capacity of laboratories for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) presents a critic... more Limited capacity of laboratories for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) presents a critical diagnostic bottleneck in resource limited countries. This paper aims to identify such gaps and to explore whether laboratory networks could contribute towards improving AST in low resource settings. A self-assessment tool to assess antimicrobial susceptibility testing capacity was administered as a pre-workshop activity to participants from 30 microbiology laboratories in 3 cities in Pakistan. Data from public and private laboratories was analyzed and capacity of each scored in percentage terms. Laboratories from Karachi were invited to join a support network. A cohort of five laboratories that consented were provided additional training and updates sessions over a period of 15 months. Impact of training activities in these laboratories was evaluated using a point scoring (0-11) tool. Results of self-assessment component identified a number of areas that required strengthening (scores...
Background Seroconversion rates reported after Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination globally range... more Background Seroconversion rates reported after Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination globally ranges from 85–90%. Health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk of acquiring HBV and non responders' rates after HBV vaccination were not reported previously in Pakistani HCWs. Therefore we evaluated immune response to HBV vaccine in HCWs at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods Descriptive observational study conducted at Aga Khan University from April 2003 to July 2004. Newly HBV vaccinated HCWs were evaluated for immune response by measuring serum Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) levels, 6 weeks post vaccination. Results Initially 666 employees were included in the study. 14 participants were excluded due to incomplete records. 271 (41%) participants were females and 381(59%) were males. Majority of the participants were young (<25–39 years old), regardless of gender. Out of 652 HCWs, 90 (14%) remained seronegative after six weeks of post vaccination. The percen...
CiteSeerX - Document Details (Isaac Councill, Lee Giles): Research article Immune responses in pa... more CiteSeerX - Document Details (Isaac Councill, Lee Giles): Research article Immune responses in patients with HIV infection after vaccination with recombinant Hepatitis B virus vaccine.
JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 2009
The spirochetes inhabiting the large intestines of humans and animals consist of a diverse group ... more The spirochetes inhabiting the large intestines of humans and animals consist of a diverse group of related organisms. Intestinal spirochetosis caused by Brachyspira pilosicoli is a newly recognized enteric disease of human being and animals manifest as mild colitis and diarrhoea. Few cases have been reported of spirochetaemia especially in critically ill and immunocomprised patients. This is another case of spirochetaemia in a patient diagnosed as a case of chronic liver disease secondary to hepatitis C virus, presented in emergency room with history of fever, abdominal pain and slightly altered mental state. Brachyspira pilosicoli was isolated in anaerobic blood culture bottle.
Background Mycetoma is an important neglected tropical disease associated with debilitation, disf... more Background Mycetoma is an important neglected tropical disease associated with debilitation, disfigurement and death if not diagnosed and treated adequately. In Pakistan, mycetoma cases have frequently been diagnosed in histopathology and microbiology laboratories. However, there is scarcity of published data from this country. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the frequency and type of mycetoma reported in skin and soft tissue biopsies from a single center over 10 years and review of published literature from Pakistan. Method This descriptive observational retrospective study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital laboratory, Karachi, Pakistan. Laboratory data from 2009–2018 of skin and soft tissue biopsies with positive findings of mycetoma were retrieved from hospital information system. The variables for statistical analysis were age and gender of patient, anatomical site of lesion, residence of patient (geographical location) in the country, et...
IntroductionQuality-assured antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) depends upon the knowledge... more IntroductionQuality-assured antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) depends upon the knowledge and skills of laboratory staff. In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Pakistan, such types of knowledge and skills are limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to use openaccess online courses to improve the knowledge of laboratory staff involved in the detection and reporting of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).MethodologySeven online modules comprising 22 courses aimed at strengthening the laboratory detection of Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) were developed. The courses were uploaded onto the websitewww.parn.org.pk. Participants had an option of selecting courses of their interest. Online registration and completion of a pre-course assessment (pre-test) were essential for enrolment. However, participation in post-course assessment (post-test) was optional. The number of registered participants and the proportion of participants who completed each course...
OBJECTIVE To assess the strategies and outcome for reducing blood culture contamination in order ... more OBJECTIVE To assess the strategies and outcome for reducing blood culture contamination in order to improve the diagnosis of bacteraemia. METHODS The interventional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2016. The blood culture contamination data related to the first year of the study was taken as the baseline pre-intervention data. Strategies were planned as intervention for improvement by consolidating training and education in the form of dedicated lectures, practising on mannequins and developing in-house video, replacing povidone with 2% chlorhexidine preparation spray plus 70% isopropyl alcohol swabs and inducting dedicated phlebotomy team whose only responsibility was blood sample collection and minimising the probability of error. RESULTS In 2013, there were 8868 samples; 7402 in 2014; 6897 in 2015; and 9756 samples in 2016. The contamination rate in 2013 was 8% which went down to 7.75% in 2014, 4.25% in 2015 and 3.9% in 2016. The decline became statistically significant (p<0.001) after implementing a dedicated phlebotomy team in the emergency department. CONCLUSIONS Apart from teaching and training, the concept of blood culture collection kit with checklist and dedicated blood collection team was found to be vital in reducing blood culture contamination.
Antimicrobial resistance and infection control, 2017
Limited capacity of laboratories for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) presents a critic... more Limited capacity of laboratories for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) presents a critical diagnostic bottleneck in resource limited countries. This paper aims to identify such gaps and to explore whether laboratory networks could contribute towards improving AST in low resource settings. A self-assessment tool to assess antimicrobial susceptibility testing capacity was administered as a pre-workshop activity to participants from 30 microbiology laboratories in 3 cities in Pakistan. Data from public and private laboratories was analyzed and capacity of each scored in percentage terms. Laboratories from Karachi were invited to join a support network. A cohort of five laboratories that consented were provided additional training and updates sessions over a period of 15 months. Impact of training activities in these laboratories was evaluated using a point scoring (0-11) tool. Results of self-assessment component identified a number of areas that required strengthening (scores...
Background Seroconversion rates reported after Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination globally range... more Background Seroconversion rates reported after Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination globally ranges from 85–90%. Health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk of acquiring HBV and non responders' rates after HBV vaccination were not reported previously in Pakistani HCWs. Therefore we evaluated immune response to HBV vaccine in HCWs at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods Descriptive observational study conducted at Aga Khan University from April 2003 to July 2004. Newly HBV vaccinated HCWs were evaluated for immune response by measuring serum Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) levels, 6 weeks post vaccination. Results Initially 666 employees were included in the study. 14 participants were excluded due to incomplete records. 271 (41%) participants were females and 381(59%) were males. Majority of the participants were young (<25–39 years old), regardless of gender. Out of 652 HCWs, 90 (14%) remained seronegative after six weeks of post vaccination. The percen...
CiteSeerX - Document Details (Isaac Councill, Lee Giles): Research article Immune responses in pa... more CiteSeerX - Document Details (Isaac Councill, Lee Giles): Research article Immune responses in patients with HIV infection after vaccination with recombinant Hepatitis B virus vaccine.
JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 2009
The spirochetes inhabiting the large intestines of humans and animals consist of a diverse group ... more The spirochetes inhabiting the large intestines of humans and animals consist of a diverse group of related organisms. Intestinal spirochetosis caused by Brachyspira pilosicoli is a newly recognized enteric disease of human being and animals manifest as mild colitis and diarrhoea. Few cases have been reported of spirochetaemia especially in critically ill and immunocomprised patients. This is another case of spirochetaemia in a patient diagnosed as a case of chronic liver disease secondary to hepatitis C virus, presented in emergency room with history of fever, abdominal pain and slightly altered mental state. Brachyspira pilosicoli was isolated in anaerobic blood culture bottle.
Uploads
Papers by Mohammad Zeeshan