POINT PREVALENCE OF PAEDIATRIC DENGUE VIRAL INFECTION

Objective: The study's objective is to evaluate the prevalence of dengue in the paediatric age group based on demographic data and clinical symptoms. Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics and Central Research Laboratory in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Visakhapatnam. Six months of data were collected from Jan 2022 to June 2022 and a maximum of 100 OPD/IPD cases have been registered during this study period. The entire medical history of all dengue cases, including signs and symptoms, method of diagnosis, management, length of stay, and clinical outcomes, were collected from patient information. NS1 antigen detection was performed by rapid test and Dengue ELISA was performed as a confirmatory test for the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies. Results: Among the 100 suspected cases of dengue reported to OPD/IPD, 83(83%) were confirmed as dengue positive, and 17(17%) were found to be non-dengue cases with ELISA. More cases were noticed in female children 52 (55%). Prevalence was more in the age group of 5-11 y 43 (52%). The majority number of cases were reported with fever 82 (98.8%) followed by symptoms like vomiting 41(49%), cold 19(16%), and cough 18(15%). Conclusion: Understanding dengue fever in children, including clinical symptoms, etiology, diagnostic testing, therapy, and prevention, is critical for lowering disease fatality rates

Infections of Biliary Tract

Biliary tract infections include cholangitis and cholecystitis. They are associated with high morbidity and mortality in elderly patients with comorbid disease. The most common infecting organisms are Enterobacteriaceae ascending from the gastrointestinal tract, Gram-positive pathogens like Enterococci spp.; the infections are rarely caused by fungi, viruses, and parasites. The prime reason for biliary tract infections is the ascending infection due to the reflux of duodenal contents and also the blood-borne infection or infection spreading through the portal-venous channels. The other predisposing conditions causing biliary tract infections include critical illnesses such as trauma, burns, sepsis, HIV infection, immunosuppression, diabetes, non-biliary surgery, and childbirth. The infection is reduced by β-lactam antibiotics or their derivatives, cephalosporins, carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, etc. Empiric treatment with piperacillin/tazobactam or a cephalosporin with or without metronidazole is recommended for moderate and severe acute cholecystitis irrespective of whether there is growth by culture. Patients with severe cholecystitis are unfortunately difficult to identify properly, both clinically and radiologically, because clinical symptoms are unexpected, and imaging investigations are frequently ambiguous. However, there are significant differences in morbidity and death rates between individuals with mild cholecystitis and those with severe cholecystitis. Preventing related consequences requires early identification and effective therapy of individuals at risk of severe cholecystitis

ISOLATION OF MULTI DRUG RESISTANT BACTERIA FROM BORE WATER SAMPLES IN AND AROUND VISAKHAPATNAM

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the levels of groundwater contamination by isolating total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and bacterial pathogens. Methods: A total of 32 water samples, comprising 5 samples from each GVMC urban area zone, Visakhapatnam were randomly collected from different areas. Evaluation of Total and fecal coliform counts was done by using multiple-tube fermentation technique and were reported as the most probable number (MPN) of organisms present per 100 ml of sample. Results: The samples collected from the zones Yendada (zone I), Marripalem (zone IV), Chinna musidiwada (zone VI) showed the highest total and fecal coliform counts (MPN>180). Nearly 30 samples (94%) yielded bacterial isolates. Among the isolates Pseudomonas spp. showed highest susceptibility to cefepime and imipenem antibiotics. All the microorganisms isolated were multidrug resistant with a multidrug antibiotic resistant index more than 0.2. Conclusion: These multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms are considered as a major threat to the public health and should receive more attention

Tools for Rapid Detection and Control of Foodborne Microbial Pathogens

Foodborne illnesses have become more common over time, posing a major threat to human health around the world. Foodborne pathogens can be present in a variety of foods, and it is critical to detect them in order to ensure a safe food supply and prevent foodborne illnesses. Traditional methods for detecting foodborne pathogens are time-consuming and labor-intensive. As a result, a range of technologies for quick detection of foodborne pathogens have been developed, as it is necessary for many food analysis. Nucleic acid-based, biosensor-based, and immunological-based approaches are the three types of rapid detection methods. The ideas and use of modern quick technologies for the detection of foodborne bacterial infections are the focus of this chapter

BMR Microbiology A STUDY ON NECROTIZING FASCIITIS AND OTHER WOUND INFECTIONS BMR Microbiology BM 46|Volume 3|Issue 1|2017 2

Cite This Article: Usharani, P., Vijayalakshmi, P.(2017). A study on necrotizing fasciitis and other wound infections. BMR Microbiology, 3(1).1-7 ABSTRACT Purpose A wound is commonly infected because there is loss of integrity of skin. Infected wound delays wound healing due to the lack of defense mechanism, blood supply and lack of oxygen. The present study was focused on the incidence of various pathogens in different types of wound infections and the variations in their antibiotic susceptibility have been analyzed. Methods A total of 50 samples were collected randomly from wound infected areas like cellulitis, diabetic foot lesions, post-operative wound infections, early stages of necrotizing fasciitis, burn wounds etc. The samples were analyzed by various microbiological techniques like microscopy, culture methods and Biochemical methods. The antibiotic sensitivity pattern of isolates was tested by using Kirby Bauer's disc diffusion method. Results Out of 50 cases, 35 were males and 15 were a female which shows the male preponderance. Wound infection showed a high incidence in the age group of 41-60 which is followed by 21-40. The most predominant bacteria in positive samples are Pseudomonas aeruginosa with 44% which is followed by Staphylococcus aureus 26%, Klebsiella pneumoniae 16%, Proteus mirabilis 8% and Escherichia coli 6%. Nearly 21 major strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was highly sensitive to Amikacin (95.4%) and 15 strains were sensitive to Amoxycillin/clavulanate (68.1%). Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from two cases of necrotizing fasciitis and the fungi Aspergillus niger was isolated from one burn wound infection. Conclusion The most common organisms isolated were Pseudomonas aeruginosa followed by Staphylococcus aureus which showed sensitivity to Amikacin. The percentage of resistance was high among Penicillin, Cephalexin, Ampicillin, Tetracycline and Erythromycin

Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial activity of newer herbal disinfectant formulations on hospital microbial flora

Background: The world is now focusing on use of herbals because they are eco-friendly and less toxic on human health and environment Objectives:To evaluate antimicrobial activity of newer herbal disinfectant formulations on hospital microbial flora Methods: Herbal disinfectants were prepared with medicinal plant leaf extracts of Tridax procumbens, Withania somnifera, Tinospora cordifolia, Costus igneus and Nepata cataria. Hospital microbial flora was isolated by rubbing and rotating sterile swabs from targeted spots. Extract formulations were tested for the antimicrobial activity against five isolatedbacterial strains i.e., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter sp., Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus using Kirby-bauer disc diffusion method. Results: Extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms. Among the five different herbal disinfectants, Tinospora cordifolia showed good antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Enterobacter and Enterococcus faecalis with 27mm, 20mm and 14mm of zone of inhibition respectively. Costus igneus showed high antimicrobial activity to Pseudomonas aeruginosa with 22mm of zone of inhibition. The herbal disinfectant formulations in the present study were reported effective results against hospital microbial flora which cause nosocomial infections Conclusions: Herbal disinfectants Tinospora cordifolia, Costus igneus, Withania somnifera exhibits antimicrobial activities against MDR bacterial pathogens isolated from hospital wards

Role of surrogate risk biomarkers for cardiovascular risk prediction in chronic kidney patients

Background: Biomarkers are quantifiable and repeatable biological indicators and some of them are used to predict cardiovascular events in individuals with chronic renal illness. Objectives: To assess, surrogate risk biomarkers like H-FABP, CIMT, serum albumin and A/C ratio in development of cardiovascular disease in stage III and stage IV CKD patients. Methods: It is a case control study, with sample size each of hundred cases and controls who were recruited from Nephrology department and present with chronic kidney disease – stage III / IV. B-model ultrasonography was employed for CIMT evaluation. H-FABP would be estimated using ELISA. Serum albumin in blood samples was determined using the bromocresol green. Urinary Albumin/creatinine ratio was expressed as milligram of albumin excreted per gram of urinary creatinine. Results: It was found that, there was a mean increase in the values of H-FABP and CIMT for cases compared to control population. However there was no much increase in mean values for serum albumin to control and case population. Conclusion: use of established and significant laboratory biomarkers like H-FABP, CIMT, ACR, Serum albumin concentration were really proven to be assessing the CKD risk in the general population