Peripheral venous catheter related blood stream infection in intensive care unit

Background: Peripheral venous catheter related blood stream infections (PVC-BSI) are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitals. Most of the catheter related blood stream infections occurs due to lack of proper aseptic measures. This study points out the risk factors microbial profile and antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates associated with PVC-BSI. The common organisms causing Catheter related BSI are Staphylococcus aureus (41.1%), and Klebsiella species (17.6%) followed by CONS and Enterococcus species. Objective of present study was to isolate and identify the organisms causing PCV-BSI, perform antimicrobial sensitivity testing of isolated organisms and to identify the associated risk factors and preventive measures that should be used.Methods: The study was conducted over a period of one year from August 2015 to July 2016 in the Department of Microbiology. Study group comprised of all the patients with peripheral venous catheterization who developed signs and symptoms of septicemia after 48 hrs of insertion of PVC. These patients were followed up from the time of catheterization till discharge. Peripheral venous catheter tip was collected under aseptic condition along with peripheral blood samples from a site other than the catheterized one. Samples were collected from patients at any point of time who developed signs and symptoms of septicemia after 48 hrs of catheter insertion. The length of time for which the PVC was in place was recorded.Results: In total, 87 cases were included in the study with mean catheter duration of 4.8 days accounting for 418 catheter days. Out of these 87 cases, 17 cases developed PVC-BSI (19.5%) and 34 cases developed colonization (24.1%). Staphylococcus species (41.1%) was the most common isolate.

A three year retrospective study on the increasing trend in seroprevalence of dengue infection from southern Odisha, India.

Background & objectives: In Odisha, several cases of dengue virus infection were detected for the first time in 2010, the importance of dengue as a serious mosquito-borne viral infection was felt only in 2011 with the reporting of many more positive cases. This retrospective three year study was done to find out the seroprevalence of dengue Igm antibody and to know the predominant serotype of dengue virus among the patients suspected to have dengue virus infection in a tertiary care hospital in southern Odisha, India. Methods: Blood samples from clinically suspected dengue cases admitted in the Medicine and Paediatrics departments of a tertiary care hospital were collected. These were processed for detection of dengue specific IgM antibody, carried out by the ELISA method. Dengue IgM antibody positive serum samples were tested for serotypic identification. Results: of the 5102 samples tested, 1074 (21.05 %) were positive for dengue IgM. Maximum numbers of cases were found in 2012. Majority (47.86 %) of cases were detected in the month of September. The most common affected age group was 11 to 20 yr. DENV1 and DENV2 were the detected serotypes. Interpretation & conclusions: Rapid increase in the dengue cases in 2012 became a public health concern as majority of cases were affecting the young adolescents. Most of the cases were reported in post-monsoon period indicating a need for acceleration of vector control programmes prior to arrival of monsoon.

Influenza due to a Novel Influenza A (H1N1)/09 Virus.

The influenza A(H1N1) virus originating in Mexico has shaken the political, economical and health system of the whole world. It produces flu like symptoms in human body and is responsible for producing high morbidity than mortality.

New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase: A weapon for the newly emerging drug-resistant bacteria.

The world has seen the emergence of many micro-organisms in the recent past, which can curb human population with their newly built genetic make-up. The latest addition to this list of panic creating organisms is, bacteria encoding the gene for New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM-1). NDM-1 is an enzyme that can hydrolyze and inactivate carbapenems, which are used as a last resort for the treatment of multi-resistant bacterial infections. Names of these bacteria were not found in the medical literature before December 2009, because of which it can take the credit of becoming a powerful emerging bacteria, which are difficult to treat. Besides Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, other bacterial strains have also expressed the gene for NDM-1, which are detected in many countries.

Laboratory diagnosis of chikungunya virus: Do we really need it.

Chikungunya (CHIK) fever is a re-emerging Aedes mosquito-transmitted viral disease caused by CHIK virus belonging to the Togaviridae family of genus Alphavirus. The disease is almost self-limiting, occurs with characteristic triad of sudden onset fever, rash and arthritis. During the recent outbreak CHIKV was also found to cause long-term arthralgia, severe neurological disease and even fatalities. Although there are no antiviral or vaccines available for CHIKV, still there are several advantages to diagnose the infection. The present article provides an overview of various diagnostic modalities available and its significance by searching PubMed MeSH terms "Chikungunya virus" and "Diagnosis" for recent articles. The gold standard of CHIKV diagnosis is culture, yet requires facilities and skills. Highly sensitive and specific PCR assays for CHIKV have been developed, but the reagents and equipment are costly for widespread use. Serological diagnosis by detecting IgM antibody is most widely used as it is relatively cheaper and easier to perform. Disadvantages of antibody testing are cross-reactivity with other alpha viruses, cannot differentiate between recent past and acute infection, and its sensitivity varies in clinical settings. When tested for diagnosing acute CHIKV disease, sensitivities were just 4 to 22% and after 1 week rose to more than 80%. As most acutely infected patients seek medical attention within the first few days of illness, the ideal test should detect RNA or antigen. Therefore, the more realistic aim would be to develop a reliable antigen detection assay that could be used in rural areas, where CHIKV infection often occurs.