Two PhD scholars from Shah Abdul Latif University have achieved significant breakthroughs in environmental science and public health, raising concerns over the growing threat of antibiotic resistance in wound infections. The research, presented in preliminary seminars at the Institute of Chemistry on Tuesday, was presided over by Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Waheed Bakhsh Jatoi.
In a major step toward environmental protection, researchers at the Institute of Chemistry have developed an innovative and eco-friendly technique to effectively break down harmful pesticides used on vegetables. This remarkable achievement was led by PhD scholar Khalid Ahmed Bhutto, who was guided by Professor Dr. Waheed Bakhsh Jatoi and co-supervisor Professor Dr. Mushtaq Ali Jakhrani. The team successfully achieved complete pesticide elimination in just six hours using titanium dioxide with UV light, a significant improvement over existing methods. Importantly, the resulting compounds during this process were found to be non-toxic and safe for the environment, posing no new threats.
Professor Dr. Waheed Bakhsh Jatoi emphasized the environmental benefits of this method, highlighting its potential to reduce agricultural pollution. Meanwhile, a separate study from the Institute of Microbiology has uncovered an alarming rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria in wound infections in Sindh, particularly affecting diabetic patients. PhD scholar Ali Bakhsh Khohro, under the guidance of Professor Dr. Mir Muhammad Ali Talpur, found that these bacteria are dangerously prevalent in the Larkana region, posing a serious health risk.
The research revealed that diabetic patients experience an 85% delay in wound healing, highlighting the urgent need for advanced diagnostic and treatment methods. Khohro stressed the importance of careful antibiotic use to combat this growing problem. The seminars presenting these findings marked a significant advancement in the university’s scientific research efforts, contributing to environmental sustainability and public health improvement. Participants left the sessions with valuable insights and recommendations from the experts.