https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/63517 2026-04-04T21:45:50Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/90245 Title: Pharmacotherapy in AIDS Abstract: The purpose of this study is to provide information about the present day pharmacotherapy of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which should be useful to all those concerned with its management. However, it is not intended to be used as a text book of pharmacology; it only gives a brief description of some of the thousand-and-one drugs and experimental agents used in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. The major drugs alone, such as zidovudine, pentamidine and ganciclovir would require a whole dissertation if they were to be tackled in toto. Although a detailed discussion of AIDS vaccines is outside the scope of this project (vaccines are not regarded as drugs), consideration of their mechanisms of action (at experimental level) and their importance in the near future constitutes an informative review of the management of AIDS. Treatments of AIDS-associated opportunistic infections and malignancies are still evolving and as the AIDS epidemic has only been recognised since 1981, there is no really long-term follow-up data available. As a consequence, the clinician has great difficulty in keeping up with all the vast information published in medical journals. The pharmacist as a drug expert, therefore has a tremendous impact in disseminating to other health care providers timely information about AIDS therapies. Clinical pharmacy is a new area in pharmacy which is gaining importance in the practice of the profession. A case study to highlight the way in which the HIV disease progresses and is treated has been presented; the role of the clinical pharmacist is given particular importance. Emphasis is also laid on the costings of medications which is another important aspect of clinical pharmacy. This project presents current information that has been drawn from recent medical literature, much of which has come from the U.S.A. and U.K., and to a lesser extent, from the limited local resources. However, since any statement concerning treatment is likely to become outdated, pharmacists, physicians and other health care professionals should always refer to the latest product data sheets. Description: B.PHARM.(HONS) 1991-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/90242 Title: The law concerned with 'over the counter' dispensing Abstract: The laws governing a profusion, have a central role to play in maintaining proper standards of practice. The presence of strictly enforced laws which ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines is a necessity not a luxury. It is equally important that the relevant legislation be updated to meet modern trends in health care development. The increasing demands being made in the field of primary health care make the update of legislation regarding Over the Counter dispensing essential. This study therefore deals with the laws concerned with Over The Counter dispensing in Malta. In particular, it investigates the evolvement of these laws and the current obtaining legal position on the island. Malta's proposed entry into the European Community is considered and a comparative study regarding Malta and the European Community legislation was carried out. Current thinking regarding this issue i.e. the Over the Counter dispensing, was evaluated and various experts as for example the Malta Chamber of Pharmacists were consulted for their opinions regarding the major inadequacies of the laws. Pharmacies in different regions of Malta were contacted by telephone. The pharmacists' opinions regarding the free sale of non prescribed medicines were sought. An attempt was made to establish how pharmacists in Malta regarded the legislation of "Over the Counter" dispensing by evaluating the practice of their sales. Survey 1 involved which drugs are sold freely, without a prescription and without taking the proposed use in Malta. 35 pharmacies were contacted (approximately 25% of the total number of pharmacies in Malta). A scoring system was devised, 10 being allocated to the substance mostly told freely and with out a necessary prescription, 9 to the most common and so on. The total scores were calculated for each item and the results were recorded in descending order of frequency. Survey 2 concerned the sale of antibiotics and the contraceptive pill without the necessary prescription. 100 pharmacies were contacted, the pharmacists being asked if they normally dispense drugs, especially antibiotics and the contraceptive pill, without the necessary prescription. The results suggest that community pharmacists should be encouraged to record trends in the items which are sold freely, especially if they are "Over the Counter" drugs, because misuse could occur. In this way, potential abusers could be more easily identified and counselled. Maltese people have a strong tendency for self medication. The most common idea is that paracetamol cures everything and "Benylin" and "Actifed" products cure any cough. A point which best illustrates this is that, although in Malta there are a large number of diabetics, the use of insulin syringes has been identified in a group of consumers not known to be non-diabetics. From this study, the need for a more active participation from the pharmacist when dispensing "Over the Counter" drugs appear essential. The pharmacist must be in a position to ask the relevant question regarding medication. Consequently, he/she should be able to select the best medication accordingly. The pharmacist must ask the necessary questions regarding medication and select the best medicine himself. A high percentage of pharmacists dispense medicines, which require a prescription, as "Over the Counter". The legislation is present but not observed. The justifications and explanations offered by some respondents yield some interesting, albeit worrying, aspects of the profession. The non observance of this legal obligation is so widespread that if one pharmacist had to observe it, his endeavours would be ineffectual. When it comes to the contraceptive pill however, the results are different. This can be due to the high percentage of side effects caused by the contraceptive pill so that the pharmacist is not willing to take the risk. Another factor could be morality, due to the strong religious bonds in the Maltese population. The legislation should be revised so as to increase the scope of "Over the Counter'' medicines in Malta. However, it should be made clear that the term "Over the Counter" should not imply "freely sold" or "sold without a physician's prescription" but should imply that it is the pharmacist who takes responsibility for choosing the proper medication to try to satisfy the patient's needs. The legislation must be safeguarded and any irrational abuse should be stemmed. The organisation of Continuing Education Programmes by the local Professional Body, the Malta Chamber of Pharmacists, is a step in the right direction. The emphasis is on the need for pharmacists to be further trained in differentiating the symptoms present and dispensing the corresponding (or most effective) medication. This programme should be further developed and possibly made mandatory for pharmacists practising Over the Counter dispensing. This programme could be developed and would assess the pharmacist's ability to perform this important function. Description: B.PHARM.(HONS) 1991-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/90232 Title: Current practices in wound management Abstract: Current wound care practices at St. Luke's Hospital were studied in a survey in which the role of traditional wound management products in clinical practice was evaluated and the use and availability of modern wound management techniques was examined. The participation, through interviews and questionnaires, of various members of the health care team including Consultants and nursing staff of various wards, provided a clear profile of the existing situation. Survey results indicated that current wound care practices at St. Luke's Hospital have not kept pace with modern research findings in wound management techniques. Three principle interrelated problems were identified, namely: a. the widespread use of a number of traditional products known to adversely affect healing, in particular Eusol, hydrogen peroxide and other topical antiseptics; b. the very limited availability, if at all, of modern wound management products such as semi-permeable films, hydrogels, hydrocolloids, bead dressing and others; c. the urgent need of on-going, updated information on modern wound management techniques for members of the health care team. From the survey, it was justifiably assumed that, in order to become more sensitive to recent developments in this particular field, the re-evaluation and updating of wound care practices is of utmost importance. This requires a multi-disciplinary approach, involving the role of nurses, doctors, pharmacists, bacteriologists and other members of the health care team. It is proposed, therefore, that the essential initiative to effect the required change is the setting up of a multi disciplinary Wound Management Committee with the specific task to formulate and implement a Wound Management Policy for St. Luke's Hospital. Description: B.PHARM.(HONS) 1992-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/90080 Title: The management and control of tuberculosis in Malta Abstract: Tuberculosis is a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease occurs throughout the world and remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in many developing countries. Each year, it is estimated that 8 million new cases occur and that it causes three million deaths. Whereas its prevalence has declined considerably in the industrial world within the last 50 years, it has re-emerged among patients with human immunodeficiency virus. The use of chemotherapy have contributed generously to the rapid decline in tuberculosis mortality occurring in the last four decades. The use of chemotherapy in non-compliant patients has been successful to a much lesser extent. Fixed dose combination products have been formulated to minimise the compliance required for the patient to adhere to the treatment regimen. The quality control and bioavailability of fixed dose combination preparations has recently been disputed. Three studies were performed in order to: Study A i) analyse the local behaviour of tuberculosis since it became a notifiable disease by legislation in 1908, and ii) study the impact of chemotherapy on the epidemiology of tuberculosis in Malta. Study B Assess the compliance with prescribed treatment regimens among tuberculosis patients. Study C Perform and compare the in vitro dissolution profile of a locally manufactured generic preparation of Rifampicin 300mg and Isoniazid 150rog tablets to that of Rimactazid 300 tablets, and to compare the rates of release of rifampicin from these formulation with the release of rifampicin from Rimactane 300 capsules. Description: B.PHARM.(HONS) 1992-01-01T00:00:00Z