A masquerading subcutaneous swelling caused by Scedosporium apiospermum: An emerging pathogen.

Scedosporiasis is an emerging infection in immunocompromised individuals. We report a case of multiple subcutaneous swellings in a diabetic ketoacidotic patient, which was clinically diagnosed as lipoma. On fi ne-needle aspiration cytology, pus was aspirated, which showed septate branching hyphal elements. The pus culture on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar yielded Scedosporium apiospermum, which was identifi ed based on its macroscopic and microscopic features. There are very few reports of scedosporiasis from India. The diagnosis of scedosporiasis is diffi cult and correct etiological diagnosis can help in better management of the patient.

Antimicrobial resistance pattern in Escherichia coli causing urinary tract infection among inpatients.

Background & objectives: Recent studies suggest an increasing antimicrobial resistance among Escherichia coli causing urinary tract infection (UTI). We undertook this study to know the resistance pattern of E. coli causing UTI in patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital in north India, and to know the treatment given and response of the patients. Methods: The details of E. coli grown from urine samples and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern were collected from the laboratory registers and the patient details were collected from the case records. The urine samples received were processed using standard methods and antibiotic susceptibility was done by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test. Results: of the total 311 E. coli isolates, 119 (38.2%) were isolated from in-patients, which were considered for the study. of these 119 E. coli isolates, 91 (76.51%) were multi drug resistant (MDR). The isolates showed high levels of resistance to ampicillin (88.4%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (74.4%), norfloxacin (74.2%), cefuroxime (72.2%), ceftriaxone (71.4%) and co-trimoxazole (64.2%). The isolates were sensitive to amikacin (82.6%), piperacillin-tazobactum (78.2%), nitrofurantoin (82.1%) and imipenem (98.9%). Ceftriaxone was most commonly used for empirical therapy for UTI among inpatients in our hospital. of the 93 cases of UTI due to MDR E. coli, 73 improved on treatment and 12 worsened, which were referred to higher centres. Interpretation & conclusions: Oour study showed that 76.5 per cent of E. coli isolates from urine samples of inpatients were MDR. Diabetes, chronic renal disease and catherization were some of the risk factors associated. The high rate of resistance could be because only inpatients were included and the increased usage of cephalosporins in our hospital for empirical therapy.

Soft tissue infections with Arcanobacterium haemolyticum: report of three cases.

We report here three polymicrobial wound infections associated with Arcanobacterium haemolyticum in rural patients aged between 60-65 years. In two patients, one with cellulitis and the other with postoperative wound infection following amputation of the limb, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum was isolated repeatedly along with beta haemolytic streptococci (BHS). The BHS belonged to Lancefield's group G and group C respectively. In another patient, who was a diabetic with chronic osteomyelitis, Arcanobacterium haemolyticum was isolated along with Proteus vulgaris . All the three isolates of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum isolated by us were uniformly resistant to cotrimoxazole and sensitive to penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. Erythromycin alone or combined therapy of penicillin with erythromycin or penicillin with ciprofloxacin was effective in treating these infections.

Antenatal Diagnosis of Iniencephaly: Sonographic and MR Correlation: A Case Report

Iniencephaly is an uncommon and fatal neural tube defect involving the occiput and inion, this occurs together with rachischisis of the cervical and thoracic spine, and retroflexion of the head. We report the ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of a case of iniencephaly with clubfeet and arthrogryposis. The diagnosis of iniencephaly is easy to make on ultrasound due to the typical star-gazing fetus. However, the details of the fetal brain and spinal cord may not be adequately delineated on US. We found MR imaging to be superior for depicting central nervous system abnormalities. MR imaging has evolved as an imaging modality and it is complementary to fetal US, yet US remains the screening modality of choice.

Extensive deep neck space abscess due to B-Haemolytic group G Streptococci-A case report.

Beta haemolytic phenotype of group G streptococci was isolated from the pus obtained from a patient with extensive deep neck space abscess. Patient was immunocompetent and made complete recovery after surgical drainage and administration of amoxycillin with clavulanic acid, amikacin and metronidazole. To our knowledge, this is the first report of deep neck space abscess due to group G streptococci.