Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C genotypes among young apparently healthy females of Karachi-Pakistan

Although the prevalence of hepatitis virus infections in Pakistan is still unknown, limited data indicate that the exposure rate to HBV is 35-38% with 4% being carriers and 32% having anti-HBV surface antibodies through natural conversion [1, 2, 3]. Studies in Pakistan have shown that the prevalence rate of HCV is 4.8-14% for, and that it is continuously increasing. Hence there is an urgent need to create awareness about the prevalence of both hepatitis B and C, and to develop preventive measures aimed at minimizing the prevalence of these diseases in the country. Prospective, descriptive study. The study took place from March 2002 till October 2006 at two university campuses in Karachi. A total of 4000 healthy female students were screened for HBs Ag, anti-HBs antibodies and anti-HCV antibodies by rapid immunochromatography, ELISA and PCR. A total of 3820 volunteers [95.5%] were negative by all three methods, 181 [4.5%] tested positive for HB surface antigen and 20 [0.5%] were positive for anti HB surface antibodies; 208 volunteers [5.2%] were positive for HCV. Double infection with HBV and HCV was found in only one patient [0.025%]. Out of 180 HBs antigen positive samples 151 [83.89%] were genotype D, 28 [15.56%] showed mixed infection with genotypes B and D, and one patient [0.56%] showed mixed infection with genotypes C and D. Out of 208 samples positive for HCV antibodies, 107 [51.44%] were genotype 3a, 50 [24.04%] were mix of genotype 3a and 3b, 33 [15.87%] were genotype 3b, 10 [4.81%] were genotype Ib while, 8 [3.84%] samples could not be typed. Although the presence of these pathogenic viruses was not very high in our young healthy female population, it is still a matter of concern to control the unregulated spread of these deadly infections by promoting increased awareness and regular immunization programs in the community. Local manufacturing of vaccines and related products may reduce these infections

Vancomycin sensitivity of staphylococcus aureus isolates from hospital patients in Karachi, Pakistan

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [S. aureus] [MRSA], resistant to all antibiotics including Vancomycin, has been reported in Japan, USA, Canada and Brazil. Hence, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the possible presence of Vancomycin resistant or intermediate S.aureus in Karachi. A total of 850 clinical isolates were collected from two civil hospitals in the city between February 2006 and January 2007. They were identified using standard bacteriological methods. Sensitivity to recommended antibiotics was determined by disc diffusion, agar dilution, and E-test quantitative minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC]. Susceptibility to natural or semi-natural products was determined by the agar dilution method. Out of 850 isolates, 250 were MRSA, of which 22% were resistant to 4 g/ml Vancomycin, 24% to 8 g/ml, 15.2% to 16 g/ml, 10% to 20 g/ml, and 13.2% to 30 g/ml; the remaining 15.6% were sensitive to all used concentrations. Although we did not detect any Vancomycin-resistant S. aureus [VRSA], we found that 13% of the strains were intermediates [VISA], i.e. resistant to 30 g/ml of Vancomycin. Because of the continuously increasing prevalence of VISA, it is imperative to minimize the use of Vancomycin. Indeed, the drug should only be prescribed for the treatment of documented, culture-proven infections with MRSA that are not susceptible to routine or alternative agents. This should help avoid the consequences of the development of Vancomycin resistant S. aureus [VRSA] in our environment