Fecal carriage of extended spectrum beta Lactamase producing organisms in a teaching tertiary care hospital of north India.

Awareness of the fecal carriage of ESBL bacteria is very important for the clinicians, microbiologists, infection control practitioners and epidemiologists. Worldwide, the data shows that the presence of these bacteria pose a serious threat to both community and the hospital settings. So this study for the detection of fecal carriage of ESBL producing bacteria is pertinent for framing antibiotic and infection control policy.

Acanthamoeba keratitis with Curvularia co-infection.

We report a case of Acanthamoeba keratitis with Curvularia co-infection. Acanthamoeba and fungal co-infection have been uncommonly reported in literature, worldwide. A classical history with a strong clinical suspicion and experienced laboratory personnel with systematic examination of corneal scrapings for bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal causes are imperative for accurate diagnosis. Early diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis or fungal infection followed by aggressive and appropriate treatment with effective agents is critical for the retention of good vision. Acanthamoeba keratitis is difficult to diagnose and, despite improvement in treatment options, may culminate in prolonged morbidity and significant loss of visual acuity. This case emphasizes the important role played by clinical microbiologists in making prompt diagnosis which can ultimately reduce visual morbidity.

A new way to resist rape.

In a case of sexual assault, rape was prevented by biting of portion of the tongue of the accused by the victim. This case is reported to highlight an almost unheard-of measure the victims girl adopted to prevent rape.

Extended spectrum -lactamases (ESBL) - An emerging threat to clinical therapeutics.

Extended spectrum -lactamases (ESBLs) are plasmid mediated, TEM and SHV derived enzymes, first isolated in Western Europe in mid 1980s, most commonly in Klebsiella spp., followed by Escherichia coli. These enzymes are capable of hydrolyzing broad spectrum cephalosporins and monobactams but inactive against cephamycins and imipenem. In addition, ESBL producing organisms exhibit coresistance to many other classes of antibiotics resulting in limitation of therapeutic option. Several risk factors have been suggested. A variety of classification schemes have been developed. Recently, Bush-Jacoby-Medeiros scheme integrated functional and molecular characteristics. ESBLs have serine at their active site and attack the amide bond in the lactam ring of antibiotics causing their hydrolysis. Because of inocolum effect and substrate specificity their detection is a major challenge. Two indicators of ESBLs are eight fold reduction in MIC and potentiation of the inhibitor zone of third generation cephalosporin in the presence of clavulanic acid. Incidence of these organisms is being continuously increasing through out the world with limited treatment alternatives. It becomes necessary to know the prevalence of these organisms and to formulate treatment policy. Moreover, restricted use of the third generation cephalosporins lead to withdrawal of selective pressure and use of lactam and -lactamase inhibitor combinations may exert reverse mutation on these enzymes.

Effect of water extract of the bark of Buchanania lanzan linn. on behaviour and chromatophores of a fresh water fish, Labeo rohita.

Fish exposed to 150 ppm and 250 ppm doses saparately, showed eratic swimming with hyper-excitability, spiralling, convulsion and mortality. However at 350 ppm dose fish became lethargic and steady at the bottom of aquarium. This behaviour appears to be due to sedative effects of fish implicating the phychoactive nature of the plant B. Ianzan. At 150 ppm to 350 ppm doses, fish scale changed from reticulate to punctate chromatophores; and treated fish when transferred to fresh water, were slowly regained to normal behaviour after 96 h exposure. Hence doses regaining from 150 ppm to 350 ppm is considered to be psychoative in nature. In higher doses 450 ppm and 550 ppm fish could survive only 76 h and 4.30 h respectively and then died indicating toxicity of plant for the said doses. It is found that scale present on its body is most suitable test system for the study of psychoactivity and toxicity of plant extracts on fish, Labeo rohita.

Anthocyanin, bisabolol and phenylammonialyase activity in cell cultures of Populus deltoides.

Phenolics, anthocyanin and alpha-bisabolol production from poplar (Populus delotides) in tissue culture was determined. A number of phenolic acids were identified by HPLC. PAL activity in response to phytohormones, cells growth and anthocyanin production showed a positive correlation. A component, alpha-bisabolol, was identified using gas chromatography and UV spectroscopy. In vitro production of said metabolites was influenced by phytohormones.

Comparative evaluation of antimicrobial activity of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-iodine versus topical antibiotics in cataract surgery.

Comparative evaluation of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-iodine versus topical broad-spectrum antibiotics for disinfecting the eye and surrounding area to prevent postoperative complications was carried out on 100 patients. PVP-iodine proved superior antiseptic for pre-operative preparation of eyes before cataract surgery. It was cheaper, caused minimal side-effects, reduced bacterial counts to a great extent and eliminated fungi completely.

Vaginitis in non pregnant women in Haryana.

Study was carried out in 100 patients of non-specific vaginitis (NSV) to find out the incidence of vaginitis due to G. vaginalis. Out of a total of 100 subjects 20 were positive for G. vaginalis as compared to only 6 in equal number of normal matched controls. One positive specimen showed concomitant presence of C. albicans and E. coli was found in another positive specimen. Presence of amines and clue cells in the discharge did not correlate with the isolation rate of G. vaginalis, thus emphasizing the necessity of culture to diagnose NSV due to G. vaginalis.

Multidrug-resistant Salmonella typhi in Haryana in 1989-90.

Of a total of 730 strains of S. typhi isolated in 1989-90, in the Medical College Hospital, Rohtak (India), 218 isolates showed resistance to chloramphenicol, ampicillin and cotrimoxazole. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for ampicillin and cotrimoxazole was up to 3200 micrograms/ml, intermediate for chloramphenicol (200-800 micrograms/ml) and low for tetracycline (50-400 micrograms/ml). A significant observation was prevalence of E1 as the predominant phage type amongst resistant strains accounting for 88.8 per cent of the resistant isolates, 95.8 per cent of these showed block resistance to ACCoT.