Microbiological surveillance of operation theatres and ICUs of a tertiary care hospital, Lahore

The aims of this work was to study the level of bacterial contamination of air, surfaces and equipment in operation theatres of a tertiary care hospital in Lahore. Settle plates method was used for air samples and swabs for surfaces and other articles. High bacteriological contamination of air and sucker machine was detected and total bacteriological counts in air samples was high. On the other hand surfaces showed less bacterial contamination. It is concluded that microbiological surveillance of operating theaters can play an important role in reducing bacterial contamination consequently peroperative infectious episodes can be reduced considerably

Frequency of extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli isolates

Extended spectrum beta lactamases [ESBLs] that mediate resistance to 3[rd] generation cephalosporins are now observed worldwide in all species of Enterobacteriaceae especially Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. ESBL producing organisms are responsible for nosocomial planned to determine the frequency of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase [ESBL] production among Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli isolated from different clinical specimens from patients admitted to different teaching hospitals of Lahore [Services Hospital, May Hospital and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital]. It was carried out in Department of Pathology, Services Institute of Medical Sciences [SIMS], Lahore from October 2005 to August 2006. A total of 324 clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli recovered from different clinical specimens like blood, urine, sputum, pus/ wound swabs were included in this study. All isolates were screened and confirmed for extended spectrum beta lactamase [ESBL] production by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar using NCCLS guidelines. Out of a total of 324 isolates, 184 were Klebsiella pneumoniae and 140 were Escherichia coli. Among these, 47.82% were Klebsiella pneumoniae and 38.57% Escherichia coli isolates were ESBL producer. ESBL production was the highest among isolates from blood [50%] isolates from Mayo Hospital, Lahore [56.25%]. It is concluded that there is a high frequency of ESBL production among nosocomial isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. These isolates being resistant to 3[rd] generation cephalosporins and many other classes of antibiotics pose a special therapeutic challenge. Therefore, these isolates should be routinely tested by ESBL production

Seroprevalence of rubella IGG and IGM antibodies in infants suspected of having rubella infection

This study was conducted to assess clinical and laboratory screening for suspected congenital rubella syndrome [CRS] and to evaluate the efficacy of reporting of CRS cases at the Children's Hospital and the Institute of Child Health. A total of 100 infants suspected of having rubella infection were included in the study. Rubella titer was used as an indicator. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was performed to detect rubella specific IgM and IgG. The data was analyzed on infants 'birth weight, infants' clinical characteristics and laboratory evaluation. The study shows that out of 100 Infants, only three [3%] met the definition for confirmed rubella whereas thirty-four patients were positive for Rubella IgG only. Ninety-seven other children had clinical presentation that met the definition for a probable case but when they were tested for Rubella specific IgM antibodies, the tests were negative. Rubella IgG positive patients were further categorized on the basis of their age; 33 [97%] infants were of less than six months and only 1 [3%] infant was of more than six months. Average age of the patients was 2.2 months [SD +/- 1.55]. The common clinical presentations in rubella positive patients [n=3] were failure to thrive [100%], cataract [67%], patent ductus arteriosus [67%], microcephaly [67%], intracranial calcification [33%], buphthalamus [33%], and hepatosplenomegaly [67%]. With regard to hematological abnormalities in the three rubella confirmed cases, three had anemia [loon two infants had thrombocytopenia [67%], and only one infant had leucopenia [33.3%]. The relatively high rate of susceptibility indicated a risk of a rubella outbreak, and the resulting. Congenital rubella syndrome is an under-recognized public health problem in Pakistan and can be reduced by vaccinating all seronegative women. There is an urgent need for the collection of appropriate data to estimate the cost effectiveness of a potential Rubella Control Programme

Environmental and nutritional parameters controlling the biosynthesis of thermostable alkaline protease [TAP] from Bacillus sterrothurmophilos, S-WN 1616 B isolated from Wady El - Natroon lakes in Egypt

A special study was undertaken concerning the productivity of thermo- alkaline protease[s] [TAP] by the proteolytic thermoalkalophilic Bacillus stearothermophilus S-WN1616B isolated from Wady El-Natroon in Egypt. Optimal parameters controlling TAP productivity were inoculum size [0.23x109 CFU/ml], incubation period [30 days], incubation temperature [55C], pH [10-10.2] and NaCl 3%. Although L-threonine, Ca-nitrate, gelatin, peptone pantothenic acid and Zn++ enhanced [TAP] formation while added separately to gelatin-production medium, yet their elimination in addition to the absence of all ingredients of medium gave evidence that only gelatin in tap water stimulated the highest yield of [TAP] under other optimal specified conditions. Data emphasized the inducing role of gelatin on TAP-biosynthesis at relatively high temperature and pH value

Hepatitis B virus infection in prostitutes and homosexuals

A total of one hundred sera [fifty from prostitutes and fifty from homosexuals] were tested for the presence of HBsAg [Hepatitis B surface antigen], anti-HBs [antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen] and anti-HBc [antibody to hepatitis B core antigen] by ELISA technique. Twenty three [46%] prostitutes were found to be seropositive [14% HBsAg positive, 24% anti-HBs positive and 8% positive for anti-HBcAg alone]. In homosexual group, 38 [76%] were seropositive for various markers [26% HBsAg positive, 44% anti-HBs positive and 6% positive for anti-HBc alone]. Comparison between prostitutes and homosexuals revealed significantly higher hepatitis B virus infection in homosexuals as shown by higher seropositivity in them