Colonization of pregnant women and their newborn infants with group-B streptococci.

As group B streptococci (GBS) prevalence varies from place to place and this organism is responsible for serious infections in newborns such as septicaemia and meningitis, the present study was carried out to find the prevalence of GBS in pregnant women and their neonates. From June 1998 to April 1999 a total of 317 pregnant women and their neonates were examined for GBS. GBS colonization rate was 2.52% and 1.26% in pregnant women and their neonates respectively. Four sites - viz. throat, external ears, external nares and stump of umbilicus from neonates were found to be equally colonized by GBS immediately after birth and at the time of discharge from hospital, except the umbilicus which was not swabbed at the time of discharge. None of the neonates developed GBS related sepsis. Selective broth medium (SBM) was found to be a superior transport method over Stuart transport medium and filter paper method. All the isolates were sensitive to Ampicillin, Erythromycin, Penicillin followed by Chloramphenicol 66.6% (12/18). All the strains were resistant to Gentamicin, followed by Tetracycline 94.4% (17/18) and Kanamycin 88.8% (16/18).

Incidence of hepatitis B surface antigen in liver diseases and voluntary blood donors.

A total of 5,606 samples were collected during January 1978 to December 1983. Out of which 4,900 were of voluntary blood donors, 564 of acute hepatitis, 130 of liver cirrhosis and 12 from hepatocellular carcinoma cases. All these samples were studied by counter immune-electro-osmophoresis (CIEP) for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The HBsAg were detected in 40 samples from voluntary donors (0.8%), 122 cases of acute hepatitis (21.6%), 20 cases of liver cirrhosis (15.3%) and 2 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (16.6%).

Clinicobacteriological study of gas gangrene.

Out of 1040 cases of road side crush injuries 14 cases (1.3%) who developed gas gangrene clinically were studied bacteriologically. Clostridia accounted for 6 (42.86%) cases and non-clostridial anaerobes and aerobes for 4 (28.57%) cases each. Clostridium perfringens was found to be the commonest isolate but non-clostridial anaerobes and aerobes also formed a sizable number. It was concluded that for prevention of gas gangrene a proper surgical toilet and antibiotics at the time of injury were necessary and a smear examination might give a clue to early diagnosis.

Study of diphtheria carriers in Miraj.

Following a case of diphtheria, 131 contacts were studied for throat and nose carriage. The carriage of C. diphtheriae was found to be 19.8%, 65.3% of them were toxin producing by counter-immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP). The carriers were treated with erythromycin for 7 days. Repeat swabs found them to be negative for C. diphtheriae except in four who had erythromycin resistant and penicillin sensitive strains. Penicillin treatment eliminated the organisms.