Evaluation of anti A60 IgM for the diagnosis of tuberculosis with ELISA method

Evaluation of Anti Tuberculous IgM antibodies for rapid diagnosis of both pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. ELISA assay based on mycobacterial antigen A-60 [Anda Biologicals, France] was used on the sera obtained from 69 cases of Tuberculosis and 136 controls in the population of Karachi, Pakistan. Of 136 controls only 21.3% were positive for IgM antibodies and showing 78.7% specificity. A very high sensitivity 72.2% was seen in sputum positive active pulmonary tuberculosis. Relatively low 56.2% sero positivity was seen in cases of sputum negative active pulmonary tuberculosis compared to those of sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis. In cases of extra pulmonary tuberculosis 57.8% sensitivity was observed. In cases of healed tuberculosis only 18.7% were found positive for IgM. The estimation value of IgM against A-60 for tuberculosis and the controls the global sensitivity of 62.2% and specificity of 78.7% was found when IgM estimation was taken into account

Susceptibility pattern of pathogens isolated from the prostatic tissue

There is significant incidence of bacterial growth in the prostatic tissue in the patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia [BPH], whereas pre-existing urinary tract infection is not a reliable indicator by which this group can be identified pre-operatively and prostatic infection could be treated. To identify the presence of various types of bacteria and fungi in prostatic tissue and cultures from urine samples of patients undergoing transurethral resection of prostrate. Cross-sectional observational study design. This study was conducted at The Basic Medical Science Institute at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center [JPMC] Department of Microbiology Karachi from. The samples were processed by the standard protocol. Culture medium of Blood agar and MacConkeys agar were used and biochemical tests were performed by using different sugar media, triple sugar iron agar, Simon citrate agar, urease, indole, and MRVP tests. Out of 100 cases 25% showed identical type of growth, 11% cases had different type of growth in urine and prostatic tissue culture whereas 5% had no growth in urine while 32% had no growth in prostate only 32% had no growth in both urine and tissue culture. The significance of prostatic tissue culture of patients undergoing surgery facilitates prompt diagnosis and the ideal choice of antibiotic can shorten the duration of treatment

Effectiveness of beta lactam antimicrobial drugs against gram negative bacteria

To study the micro flora in wounds of the burn patients from three tertiary care medical hospitals in Karachi. In burn patient infections arise from multiple sources and infect burn wounds by a variety of micro-organisms. Gram negative bacterial infection results from translocation from colon, further more burn patients are infected by Hospital acquired bacteria by various invasive and non invasive procedures. July 2002 to December 2002. This study was conducted at the Department of Microbiology, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Observational study. A retrospective study of fifty five patients with burn wound infection was carried out at burn units of Civil Hospital Karachi, National Institute of Child health Karachi and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi. Patients who received burn injuries with clinical signs and symptoms of infection were included in this study. In the present study 46[29%] isolates of P. aeruginosa were recovered, in which most strains were MDR and their sensitivity against Imipenem was 38 [78%]. The over all prevalence of the Oxidase negative Gram negative coli form bacteria was more than 70%, in which the most prevalent organism belongs to Proteus Spp;[27%] follows the Enterobacter Spp;.[15.5%]. Bacteria belongs with family Enterobacteriacae were more prevalent i.e. >70% while P. aeruginosa was individually more prevalent than any member of family Enterobacteriacae and was most resistant to multiple antibiotics than any other bacteria. Imipenem was the most effective drug against all gram negative bacteria follows the 4[th]. generation Cephalosporin Cefepime

Role of enterobactereacae in burn wound sepsis in Karachi

The over all prevalence of the Enterobacteriacae in present study was more than 50% in which the most prevalent organisms belongs to Proteus Spp. [38,3%] that followed by Enterobacter Spp. [22.4%]. The prevalence of E. coli and Kleb, Pneumoniae was 10%, Imipenem was the most effective [98%] drug against Enterobacieieacae. Ciprofloxacin was the second most effective [82%] drug. Amikacin and fourth generation Cefepirne were the third effective [>70%] drugs against these bacteria. Ciprofloxacin was the less effective [60-64%] drug against KIeb. pneumonia and E. coli than the rest of the isolates of Eiiterobactereacae. Arnikacin [49%] and Cefepime [44%] were less effective against Proteus Spp. More than 50% isolates were sensitive to Piperacillin, Gentamicin and Tobramycin. Amoxicillin and Augmentin were ineffective against these bacteria in this study

Multi drug resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa: a nosocomial infection threat in burn patients

Pseudomonas aeruginosa remains the leading pathogen causing burn wound infection. It is found as major colonizer of the burn wound because it thrives on moist burn wound surface and survives well in the hospital environment, once it is established, it can persist for months within a unit, and poses as multi drug resistant nosocomial infection threat for patients being treated there. The emergence of multi drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in burn wound is becoming a challenging problem in infection control programmes. A total of 44 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were recovered from burn patients. Most of them were resistant to multiple antibiotics. Their sensitivity against Imipenem was over all better than the other drugs i.e. 77.3%. Ciprofloxacin was the second most effective drug against this organism with a sensitivity of 54.5% while a 4th generation cephalosporin, Cefepime was effective against 22 [50%] isolates. About 30% Pseudomonas aeruginosa were sensitive to Amikacin. Aztreonam showed inhibitory activity against [6.8%] strains. Piperacillin activity was 18.2%. The efficacy of Cefutaxime was 4.5%. Chloramphenicol and Septran were 100% inactive against Pseudomonas infection while > 95% strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were resistant to Tobramycin

Latex agglutination method, its comparison with elisa [enzyme linked immuno sorbant assay] for HBsAg detection

OBJECTIVE: To compare the methods for the detection of HBsAg, as regards their sensitivity, specificity, practicability and cost effectiveness. SETTING: Basic Medical Science Institute, JPMC, Karachi. PERIOD: 15th Feb 1995 to 30th April 1995. SUBJECTS: 32 blood samples [22 positive and 10 negative for HBsAg] were taken from blood donors and tested in different dilutions. METHODS: All the samples were tested for HBsAg by LA method, using HUMAN [Germany] Kit and by ELISA, ABBOTT [USA] Kit. Latex agglutination method was 57% sensitive and 100% specific as compared ELISA. CONCLUSIONS: ELISA was found to be more sensitive, while both the test procedures were equally specific. On the other hand, ELISA was very technical and time consuming [2-3 hours], while LA method was very simple and rapid to perform [5-10 minutes]. Moreover cost per test for ELISA was many times more as compared to LA method. Therefore, LA method appeared to be more suitable for screening the HBsAg carriers while ELISA for HBsAg detection in early diagnosis of hepatitis and its prognosis

Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from patients at Karachi

To see the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of Staphylococcus aureus strains. Design: The susceptibility of Staph. aureus strains to oxacillin, six other beta lactam antibiotics and ten non-beta lactam antimicrobial agents was determined on Mueller Hinton agar by disc diffusion method. Staph. aureus strain ATCC 25923 was used as standard strain for quality control. Settings: Patients from five large public and private sector hospitals of Karachi. Subjects: Prospective study involving 200 strains of Staph. aureus isolated from patients suffering from hospital acquired or community acquired infections. Main outcome measures: Antibiograms of Staphlococcus aureus strains against beta lactam and non-beta lactam antimicrobial agents. The strains were found highly resistant to penicillin [92%]. All the strains were sensitive to vancomycin, 91% were sensitive to fusidic acid and to rifampicin, 88% to chloraphenicol, 86% to clindamycin and to ofloxacin, 75% to gentamicin, 61% to erythromycin, 41% to tetracycline and 45% to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. About 25% strains were resistant to oxacillin [MRSA]. Almost the same number were resistant to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid combination and to cephalosporins. Most of the MRSA strains were also resistant to the non-beta lactam antimicrobials while MSSA strains were mostly sensitive to the beta lactam and non-beta lactam antimicrobials. Antibiotic resistance in Staphlococcus aureus is very high. Most of the MRSA strains are multiply resistant towards the commonly used antibacterials and their prevalence in community is alarmingly high. The situation calls for restrication calls for restriction in the use of antibiotics and adoption of adequate infection control measures