ABSTRACT
Fungal brain abscess is rare with a rapidly progressive disease with fulminant course and invariably fatal outcome, unless diagnosed early and treated rapidly. We report a 56‑year‑old woman diagnosed to have fungal abscess who recovered completely following amphotericin B treatment. She presented with weakness of the right hand, deviation of mouth to left and aphasia for 2 days. Computed tomography of the brain revealed a left frontal capsuloganglionic hypodense lesion. Stereotactic biopsy was performed, and microbiological confirmation of non‑septate fungal hyphae from pus from aspirate within 2 h helped initiate timely and appropriate treatment leading to cure. Histopathology and culture later confirmed mucormycosis.
ABSTRACT
Background: Infection with the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a global health problem. Epidemiological studies worldwide show wide variations in the prevalence patterns of the Hepatitis B infections. Early detection can contribute substantially to the timely diagnosis of the patients with acute illnesses and to an early treatment and hence, it can limit the transmission of the infection. Aim: To provide a baseline data on the prevalence of Hepatitis B among the patients who were attending Chennai Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Trichy, Tamilnadu, over a period of 4 years (2010-2013). Methods: This was a retrospective study which was carried out among 19,513 patients who were attending the rural tertiary care teaching hospital, Trichy, over a period of 4 years (January 2010 – December 2013). The sera were screened for the presence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by HEPACARD. Those found positive on screening test were confirmed by Enzyme linked Immuno-sorbent Assay (ELISA) test. Results: Out of 19,513 sera which were studied, 315 (1.61%) were sero-positive cases. Among the positive cases (315), the seroprevalence in males and females were 73% (230) and 27% (85) respectively and the frequency of HBV among age groups 0-20, 21-40, 41-60, >60 was 5.07% (16), 45.07% (142), 35.9% (113),11425% (36) respectively. Among the positive cases, a majority were in the age group of 21 to 40 years, with a male preponderance (p<0.05). Conclusion: The overall prevalence for this HBsAg marker among the patients who attended the rural tertiary teaching hospital in this study was comparatively similar to that which was reported by other studies from India.
ABSTRACT
Ocular dirofilariasis is a zoonotic filariasis caused by nematode worm,Dirofilaria. We present a case of dirofilariasis affecting the upper eyelid in a 2-year-old child presenting as an acutely inflammed cyst, from southern Indian state of Kerala. Live adult worm was surgically removed and confirmed to be Dirofilaria repens. Live worm showing continuous movement was seen on the pre-operative high-resolution ultrasound. Ultrasound can be helpful in pre-operative identification of live worm. Imaging findings reported in literature are very few. We describe the clinical, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.
ABSTRACT
Anterior chamber aspirate cultures were done for 66 patients who underwent either an uncomplicated intracapsular cataract extraction, extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior-chamber intraocular lens implantation, or phacoemulsification with posterior-chamber intraocular lens implantation. The aspirate was obtained at the time of wound closure. The aspirates were immediately transferred to the microbiology laboratory where one drop of the aspirate was placed on a glass slide for gram stain, and the remainder was unequally divided and inoculated into blood agar, chocolate agar and thioglycolate broth. The cultures were incubated at 37 degrees C with 5% CO2 and held for 5 days. Of 66 patients 4 (6%), had smear-positive anterior chamber aspirates. None of the aspirates showed any growth on any of the 3 culture media used. None of the eyes in the study developed endophthalmitis. This study concludes that there is no contamination of the anterior chamber by viable bacteria after cataract surgery, irrespective of the mode of intervention.