Seroprevalence of anti SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies among adults in Jammu district, India: A community-based study

Background & objectives: Serology testing is essential for immunological surveillance in the population. This serosurvey was conducted to ascertain the cumulative population immunity against SARS-CoV-2 among adults in Jammu district and to understand the association of seropositivity with sociodemographic and clinical correlates. Methods: On September 30 and October 1, 2020, a household survey was done in 20 villages/wards chosen from 10 health blocks in district Jammu, India. Demographic, clinical and exposure information was collected from 2000 adults. Serum samples were screened for IgG antibodies using COVID Kavach MERILISA kit. Tests of association were used to identify risk factors associated with IgG positivity. Crude odds ratio with 95 per cent confidence intervals (CIs) was calculated during univariate analysis followed by logistic regression. Results: Overall adjusted seroprevalence for SARS-CoV-2 was 8.8 per cent (95% CI: 8.78-8.82); it varied from 4.1 per cent in Chauki choura to 16.7 per cent Pallanwalla across 10 blocks in the district. Seropositivity was observed to be comparatively higher in 41-50 and 61-70 yr age groups, among males and in rural areas. Fever, sore throat, cough, dyspnoea, myalgias, anosmia, ageusia, fatigue, seizures, history of exposure, medical consultation, hospitalization and missing work showed significant association with seropositivity on univariate analysis. On logistic regression, only sore throat, myalgia and missing work showed significant adjusted odds of IgG positivity. Extrapolation to adult population suggested that exposure to SARS-CoV-2 was 14.4 times higher than reported cases, translating into Infection fatality rate of 0.08 per cent. Interpretation & conclusions: Since a major part of population was immunologically naive, all efforts to contain COVID-19 need to be vigorously followed while these baseline results provide an important yardstick to monitor the trends of COVID-19 and guide locally appropriate control strategies in the region

Attitudes towards menopause and its relationship with sociodemographic factors among postmenopausal women living in a rural area of Jammu: a cross-sectional study

Background: Positive attitude towards menopause is believed to be associated with positive menopausal experience and vice versa. In order to improve women’s menopausal experience, thereby improving quality of life, it is important to understand their attitude towards menopause. The objectives of the research were to explore the attitude towards menopause and its relationship with various socio-demographic and life style factors among postmenopausal woman in the rural setting.Methods: This community-based cross sectional study was conducted using non probability sampling and house-to-house visit in randomly selected villages falling under rural health block Kot-Bhalwal, Jammu. 245 postmenopausal women were interviewed using modified attitude towards menopause checklist. The data so collected was analyzed using Open Epi version 3.1. For finding statistical significance, unpaired t-test and analysis of variance were used wherever needed. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The highest percentage of agreement with the positive item was for “a woman gets more confidence in herself after menopause” (77%). The lowest percentage of agreement with the positive item was for “going through menopause really does not change a woman in any important way,” (42.5%). There was a statistically significant mean difference between mean attitude score and religion, and no. of living children (F value=3.14, p value=0.002). No significant association was found between other sociodemographic variables and attitude towards menopause scores.Conclusions: There is a large scope of counseling and health education for improving and enhancing quality of life of postmenopausal women in rural setting of our country.

A KAP study of oral health status among adults in a rural area of Jammu District

Background: Oral health is an integral part of general health and well being. It is important to know about the factors which having a bearing on oral health so that preventive measures can be taken. A research activity was planned to assess the oral health status and oral health practices of people in a rural community of Jammu region as very little is known about the knowledge and oral health practices of adults residing in this area.Methods: A cross sectional study for a period of four months was conducted in a village Tanda of R.S.Pura block of Jammu district. 324 adults above the age of 20 years (145 males and 179 females) were interviewed face to face with the help of a questionnaire consisting of questions from WHO technique of self assessment of oral health along with some more questions exploring the knowledge, attitude and local oral health practices.Results: The overall results showed adequate knowledge but poor attitude regarding oral health. Out of 324 subjects studied, 41.7% paid dental visits on having pain in teeth, gums or mouth and only 3.0% visited dentist routinely. 85.6 % of participants reported using brush and toothpaste but only 24.0% of all respondents brushed twice a day and only 16.7% of the respondents changed their tooth brush within three months.Conclusions: Oral health awareness, by promoting community based programs should be undertaken at periodic intervals for better oral health and hygiene.

Association of Maternal Bio-social Determinants with Birth Weight in Urban Slums of Jammu City.

A community based prospective study was conducted to find the association of maternal bio-social determinants with birth weight in urban slums. A random sample of 50 AWCs (7 AWC from each zone) catering the population of urban slums and constituting about 25% of the total was taken giving due representation to all zones. 303 expectant mothers registered with AWCs in their third trimester (>28 weeks of gestation) were followed till 7 days after delivery. The incidence of low birth weight in the study group was 23.1. The average birth weight of low birth weight babies was 1.98 + 0.47, while that in the normal birth weight of babies was 2.73 + 0.20.It was found that factors such as low maternal age, height, parity and occupation of mother are significantly associated with low birth weight babies.

Emergence of VRE and their antimicrobial sensitivity pattern in a tertiary care teaching hospital

During the last few years enterococci have emerged as an important cause of nosocomial and community acquired infection. They have acquired resistance to commonly used antibiotics including glycopeptides posing challenge to therapeutic options. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and sensitivity of VRE to newer drugs. A total of 250 strains of E. faecalis were isolated using conventional scheme of Facklam and Collins. High level aminoglycoside resistance (HLAR) was detected by disc diffusion method using 120 ìg gentamicin disc and confirmed by agar dilution screen method. Screening for vancomycin resistance was done by disc diffusion and the agar screen method, and was further confirmed by broth dilution method for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The strains which were resistant to vancomycin were further tested for sensitivity to newer and commonly available antibiotics. Maximum number of enterococcal isolates were recovered from urine (32.8 por cento) followed by blood (25.6 por cento) and pus (18.4 por cento). Penicillin (83.6 por cento) and cotrimoxazole (77.9 por cento) were found to be least effective drugs against the E. faecalis whereas; cefuroxime (76.8 por cento) and vancomycin (98 por cento) were most effective drugs in vitro. About two percent isolates of enterococci were resistant to vancomycin. All the VRE isolates were sensitive to quinupristin/dalfopristin. Linezolid and chloramphenicols were the two other in vitro effective drugs with 80 por cento sensitive isolates. MIC of all the VRE isolates was found to be in range of 64-512ìg/mL. So, quinupristin/dalfopristin can be used for infections caused by VRE. Continuous surveillance is necessary to detect early outbreak, and spread of VRE.

Detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

PURPOSE: The present study was designed to detect the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and to evaluate the susceptibility pattern. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred forty-eight isolates of P. aeruginosa were analyzed for the presence of ESBL enzyme by double disc synergy test. Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of ESBL-positive P. aeruginosa was determined. RESULTS: Of the 148 isolates tested, 30 (20.27%) were found to be positive. Maximum ESBL production was found in sputum and tracheostomy swabs (28.57%), followed by pus (24.13%), urine (19.04%), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and other sterile body fluids (15.38%) and blood (7.14%). All the ESBL-producing P. aeruginosa isolates were multi-drug-resistant. Isolates were 100% sensitive to imipenem. Ofloxacin was the second most (70%) effective drug. CONCLUSION: From this study, we conclude the presence of ESBL-positive P. aeruginosa in our hospital. This has important implications as carbapenems remain the only choice of treatment for infections caused by these organisms. The control measures include judicious use of antibiotics and implementation of appropriate infection control measures to control the spread of these strains in the hospital.

Uncommon Neurological Presentation due to Non-Ketotic Hyperglycemia (NKH) –Report to two cases.

Two patients of uncommon neurological presentation due to non-ketotic hyperglycemia (NKH) are being described in this report. Generalized choreo-athetosis and epilepsia partialis continua as presenting symptoms in non-ketotic hyperglycemia is rare. The abnormal movements responded completely to insulin therapy. In acute onset of abnormal movements, besides other causes, metabolic disorders such as non-ketotic hyperglycemia should also be ruled out as they are treatable.

Post-traumatic dissecting aneurysms of bilateral cervical carotid arteries with delayed complications.

Carotid dissection is an uncommon complication of trauma. They can present with immediate or delayed complications. We describe the case of a young patient with bilateral carotid dissections and acute infarcts. Brief review of literature and treatment options are discussed.