1.Some bacterial pathogens and their antibiotic susceptibility in ear, nose and throat infections: Darkhan-Uul Province (Using Darkhan-Uul Province as an example)
Maralmaa T ; Sarnai S ; Oigonchimeg B ; Altanzul A ; Khuslen I ; Itgel D ; Narantungalag D
Mongolian Journal of Health Sciences 2026;91(1):182-187
Background:
Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) inflammatory diseases are common conditions that account for a high proportion of healthcare visits. These diseases negatively affect patient’s quality of life, reduce work and learning capacity, and increase healthcare costs. Antibiotics play a crucial role in treatment; however, inappropriate use contributes to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance among pathogenic bacteria. In Mongolia, particularly in Darkhan-Uul Province, data on bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in ENT infections are limited. Therefore, evaluating the local prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and antimicrobial resistance is essential for guiding clinical practice and promoting rational antibiotic use.
Aim:
To assess the bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in inflammatory diseases of ear, nose and throat.
Materials and Methods:
The study was conducted at the School of Biomedicine, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, in collaboration with the Department of Pharmacology and the “Bid” Hospital of Darkhan-Uul Province. Data from ear, nose, and throat swab examinations of patients suspected of having ENT infections in the outpatient department between January 2024 and February 2025 were extracted from the hospital’s centralized database (n=185). Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, information from 145 patients was analyzed. The study was designed as a facility-based, retrospective, cross-sectional observational study and was carried out using SPSS - 26.0.
Result:
A total of 145 patients aged 1-73 years were included in the study, of whom 48.2% (n=70) were male and 51.7% (n=75) were female. Overall, 145 clinical specimens were collected, including nasal swabs 36 (24.8%), throat swabs 56 (38.6%), and ear swabs 53 (36.6%). Bacteriological examination revealed pathogenic microorganisms in 80.7% (n=117) of the specimens. S.aureus was isolated from 65.5% of nasal swabs, 53.6% of throat swabs, and 67.4% of ear swabs. Among S. aureus isolates from ear swabs, 27.6% (n=8) were identified as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that S. aureus isolates from nasal swabs were resistant to amoxicillin (100%), ampicillin (90.0%), erythromycin (87.5%), and azithromycin (81.8%), while they were susceptible to cefazolin (72.7%), doxycycline (80.0%), and vancomycin (75.0%). S. aureus isolates from throat swabs demonstrated resistance to amoxicillin (100%), ampicillin (100%), chloramphenicol (87.5%), and azithromycin (75.0%), but were susceptible to ciprofloxacin (69.2%) and vancomycin (66.7%). S. aureus isolates from ear swabs were resistant to gentamicin (77.8%), clarithromycin (71.4%), azithromycin (66.7%), and penicillin G (66.7%), while higher susceptibility was observed to nitrofurantoin (87.5%), vancomycin (68.8%), and ciprofloxacin (64.7%). For Streptococcus spp, resistance was observed to erythromycin (84.6%), amoxicillin (76.9%), and chloramphenicol (71.4%), whereas susceptibility was noted to amoxiclav (54.6%), cefazolin (63.2%), and cefotaxime (50.0%).
Conclusion
1. Staphylococcus aureus predominated in samples from ear, nose, and throat infections, confirming it as the main causative bacterium of these conditions.
2. The predominantly isolated Staphylococcus aureus showed high resistance to antibiotics from the penicillin, macrolide, and aminoglycoside groups.
2.Assessing the relationship between pregabalin’s analgesic effect on neuropathic pain and patient’s quality of life and sleep quality
Oigonchimeg B ; Maralmaa T ; Sarnai S ; Enkhtsetseg E ; Narantungalag D
Mongolian Journal of Health Sciences 2026;92(2):78-81
Background:
Pregabalin significantly reduces pain intensity and improves sleep quality and health-related quality of life in patients with neuropathic pain. Since it remains uncertain whether the improvements in sleep quality and quality of life associated with Pregabalin are related to its analgesic properties. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate whether these clinical outcomes are correlated.
Aim:
Assessing the Correlation Between patient’s analgesia and sleep quality, health-related quality of life outcomes after pregabalin treatment
Materials and Methods:
This study was conducted at the Geriatric Hospital of Bayangol District from February, 2026. Patients diagnosed seventy eight with neuropathic pain of any origin who attended the neurology outpatient clinic during the study period were enrolled. Pain intensity, sleep quality, and HRQoL outcomes were evaluated at baseline and at week 8 by means of an 11-point (0-10) numerical rating scale (NRS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the EuroQol EQ-5D-5L score, respectively. The study was designed as an uncontrolled observational analytic study, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 27.0.
Result:
The mean age of the study participants was 59.5±15.7 years (n=78). Of the participants, 53.8% (n=42) were female and 46.2% (n=36) male. The relationships among pain intensity, sleep quality, and health related quality of life were evaluated using correlation analysis. A strong positive and statistically significant correlation was observed between sleep quality and quality of life (p<0.05), whereas no statistically significant associations were identified among the other variables.
Conclusion
It was observed that in patients with neuropathic pain, pregabalin reduced pain intensity and that a one-unit improvement in sleep quality was associated with a 0.7-unit increase in quality of life.
3.Interactions between herbs and conventional drugs
Narantungalag D ; Maralmaa T ; Oigonchimeg B ; Ser-Od B ; Tsetsegsuren E ; Gerelmaa B ; Sarnai S
Diagnosis 2024;110(3):5-13
This article provides an overview of the clinical evidence of interactions between herbal and conventional medicines. Herbs involved in drug interactions – or that have been evaluated in pharmacokinetic trials – are discussed in this review. While many of the interactions reported are of limited clinical significance and many herbal products (echinacea, valerian) seem to expose patients to minor risk
under conventional pharmacotherapy, a few herbs, notably St. John’s wort, may provoke adverse events sufficiently serious about endangering the patient’s health.
Healthcare professionals should remain vigilant for potential interactions between herbal medicines and prescribed drugs, especially when drugs with a narrow therapeutic index are used. Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John’s wort) extracts are widely used as a safe alternative to conventional antidepressant drugs for mild to moderate forms of depressive disorders.
St. John’s wort represents the herbal product that is most involved in herb-to drug interactions.
The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the clinical data regarding the E2 interactions between herbal remedies and prescribed drugs.
For patients on prescription medications, the concomitant use of herbal medications can cause serious and adverse effects. It is the responsibility of health professionals to be well informed about the clinical evidence of herb-drug interactions.
4.Comparison of umbilical cord blood gas parameters of newborns with the use of some labory induction drugs
Oigonchimeg B ; Sarnai S ; Maralmaa T ; Ser-Od B ; Tsetsegsuren E ; Gerelmaa B ; Narantungalag D
Diagnosis 2024;110(3):40-46
Background:
Induction of labor is a procedure performed to prevent maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The effects of birth control pills on babies are still controversial. Therefore, we conducted this study to compare the effects of oxytocin and misoprostol on fetal blood gas parameters.
Aim:
To compare the effects of misoprostol and oxytocin used in labor induction on umbilical cord blood parameters
Materials and methods:
We conducted this study among mothers who gave birth in the NICU, according to the inclusion criteria, a control group (n=30), misoprostol alone vaginally (n=30) and oxytocin drip alone (n= 30) and oxytocin with misoprostol group (n=30) 4 groups used 100 mothers were selected respectively. Umbilical artery blood was sampled and umbilical artery blood pH, pCO2, pO2, HCO3, and VE (blood base excess) parameters were measured in the laboratory. The umbilical cord blood acid-alkaline parameters and lactate levels were analyzed and evaluated using COBAS C311 and COBAS B221 instruments. It was compared and determined using SPSS26 and EXCEL programs.
Results:
The average age of all mothers included in the study was 27.87±6.12, the average gestation period was 39.6±0.7 weeks, and the average weight of the newborn was 3466±323 gr. The average umbilical cord blood pH value was 7.34±0.04 in the control group, 7.25±0.07 in the oxytocin group, 7.27±0.04 in the misoprostol group, and 7.24±0.04 in the oxytocin and misoprostol group. And lactate valie was 5.8 in the control group, 7.5 in the oxytocin group, 9.87 in the misoprostol group, 8.7 in the combined group.
Conclusions
Compared to the group that did not use labor-inducing drugs, the mean pH of umbilical cord blood and lactate level were higher or statistically significant in the 3 groups that used labor-inducing drugs, indicating that birth-inducing drugs affect the umbilical cord blood parameters.
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