INTRODUCTION: Melioidosis is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, a gram-negative aerobic bacillus, found in the soil and surface water. Treating melioidosis has been a challenge in district hospitals due to high usage of broad spectrum antibiotics and prolonged hospitalisation. This study is to review the patients’ demography, clinical presentations and microbiological data. METHODS: A 5-year retrospective study was carried out on patients admitted with culture positive for melioidosis from year 2013 to 2017 in Hospital Teluk Intan, Perak. RESULTS: There were a total of 46 confirmed cases of melioidosis. Majority of the patients were working in the agricultural and farming (28.6%), and factories (25.7%). Thirty-one patients had diabetes mellitus (71.1%). Presentations of patients with melioidosis included pneumonia (54.3%), skin and soft tissue infection (19.6%), deep abscesses (15.2%) and bone and joint infections (13%). An average of 5.8 days was needed to confirm the diagnosis of melioidosis via positive culture. However, only 39.4% of these patients were started on ceftazidime or carbapenem as the empirical therapy. The intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate for melioidosis was 46% and the mortality rate was 52%. Our microbial cultures showed good sensitivity towards cotrimoxazole (97.1%), ceftazidime (100%) and carbapenem (100%). CONCLUSION: Melioidosis carries high mortality rate, especially with lung involvement and bacteremia. Physicians should have high clinical suspicion for melioidosis cases to give appropriate antimelioidosis therapy early

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is the most prevalent joint disease worldwide which reduces function and quality of life. It is linked to balance disorders and increased fall risk. Core strengthening may potentially improve balance, pain, and function in these patients. Methods: This pre-post intervention study involved 20 subjects who were diagnosed with KOA. Ten KOA patients (55.90 ± 7.74 years) in the control group (CG) received conventional treatment only, while 10 intervention group (IG) patients (56.40 ±8.87 years) received conventional treatment and core strengthening. Both groups performed thrice weekly home-based exercises for 6 weeks. Static and dynamic balance, functional-perfomance tests, and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) assessing pain and function was done at baseline and after 6 weeks, with KOOS repeated after 12 weeks. Results: There was statistically significant within-group improvement in KOOS pain and function (p<0.05) after 6 and 12 weeks, however in between-group difference was insignificant. Functional tests and balance showed more improvement in the IG but was insignificant (p>0.05). No adverse events were reported with core strengthening in the IG. Conclusion Core strengthening is a safe, practical, and feasible intervention for KOA patients which may improve balance, pain, and physical function.
Exercise