Utility of a real?time fluorescence imaging device in guiding antibiotic treatment in superficial skin infections

The prescription of antibiotics empirically without confirmation of an infective etiology is on the rise. Administration of appropriate antibiotics can be guided by real-time fluorescence imaging using a point-of-care device. These composite images show the presence, type and the burden of infection. The time saved by this method over microbiological testing, especially in resource-poor settings, can lead to a paradigm shift in treatment by facilitating prompt and adequate antimicrobial therapy, surgical debridement as well as follow-up. Thumbnail sketches of a series of four cases highlighting different scenarios in which a fluorescent imaging device utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning was found useful is presented in this report.

Diarrhea associated with Pentatrichomonas hominis in an infant: A case report

Pentatrichomonas hominis is a flagellated protozoan parasite that resides in the digestive tract of humans and is generally nonpathogenic. Although parasites of diarrheal etiology are widespread, neonatal infection with P. hominis is an uncommon incident. This case report depicts an instance of active P. hominis in an 8-month- old child with complaints of fever, vomiting, and loose stools. Stool examination was done with saline and iodine wet mount that showed motile trophozoites of P. hominis with a jerky movement. Treatment with metronidazole was effective as no parasite was found on repeated stool examinations. Pentatrichomonas hominis should be recognized as a cause of diarrhea in neonates, despite being rare.

Evaluation of DNA vaccines encoding M. Tb gene Bfrb and Mpt32 in mice model

Tuberculosis [TB] is a life threatening infectious disease which is prevalent throughout the world. Mycobacterium bovis based Bacille Calmette-Gue'rin [BCG] is the only vaccine available against TB however, this [single] vaccine is not enough to eradicate it. Furthermore, numbers of researches from different parts of the World have shown its efficacy as variable. Hence other [better] vaccines like DNA vaccines are needed in addition to BCG in order to achieve desired goal of TB eradication. The current study was aimed to develop subunit based DNA vaccines against TB and to check their efficacy. Two constructs Bfrb-pND14 and Mpt32-pND14 were made and used as DNA vaccines. Endotoxin free DNA preparations were made and used in immunization studies. Twenty Balb/c female mice of age eight weeks were used in trial. Two experimental groups each comprising eight animals were used to inoculate Mpt32-pND14 and Bfrb-pND14 vaccines respectively. A group of four animals was used as negative control. Animals were bled through tail periodically and finally through cardiac puncture before euthanization. Antibodies were confirmed through dot blot and Agar Gel Immuno Diffusion test [AGID]. All the animals immunized with both vaccines were found positive as tested through dot blot and AGID. The results of this study have indicated that both the M. tb genes have produced strong immune response in mice model through pND14 vector and proved themselves as good subunit based DNA vaccines