New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase and extended spectrum β-lactamases co-producing isolates are high in community-acquired urinary infections in Assam as detected by a novel multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay.

Background: The ability of microorganisms to evade antibiotic pressure is challenging in healthcare as patients have little or no drug treatment options. Detection of the prevalence of antibacterial resistance pattern helps towards improved antibiotic policy and empirical treatment. Objectives: We carried out antibiogram profiling and documented the prevalence and co-prevalence of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) and extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) encoding genes in urinary Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia isolates. Materials and Methods: Antibiotic susceptibilities were tested for 241 isolates of E. coli and K. pneumoniae from urine samples collected from out- and hospitalised patients. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out on isolates tested positive for phenotypic production of metallo-β-lactamase and ESBL. A multiplex PCR assay was designed to detect the genes. Results: Multiplex PCR assay designed had a limit of detection of 103 CFU/mL in vitro. NDM detected was significantly higher among K. pneumoniae compared to E. coli (69.2% vs. 18.2%; P = 0.001). Of 17, 14 NDM positive isolates also harboured ESBL genes. The co-production of CTX-M + TEM + NDM (3/9; 33.3% and 5/8; 62.5%) was most common in K. pneumoniae and E. coli, respectively while CTX-M + TEM + SHV + NDM was found in one isolate. Of the 156 phenotypically ESBL producing isolates, CTX-M, TEM and SHV was detected by PCR in 85, 53 and 24 isolates, respectively. Conclusion: NDM and ESBL co-producing isolates were both community (64.7%) and hospital (35.29%) acquired among E. coli. Antibiotic resistance can be effectively evaluated by a cost and time effective molecular method, such as the multiplex PCR used in this study, which complement culture and sensitivity tests.

Prevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Infections in HIV Infected Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in North-East India.

Aims: To study the co infection of Hepatitis B (HBV) and/or Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected patients attending tertiary care teaching hospital in North East India. Study Design: This study was a cross sectional study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Microbiology, Guwahati Medical College & Hospital, Guwahati, Assam, India for a period of one year (August 2010- July 2011) Methodology: Serum samples of 180 HIV positive patients were collected randomly who gave consent to participate in the study and were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The retrospective demographic data of the subjects were collected. Results: Out of 180 HIV positive patients (126 males and 54 females), 22 (12.2%) cases were HBsAg positive and 8 (4.4%) were anti-HCV positive. Triple infection with HBV, HCV and HIV was not found in any patient. The commonest mode of transmission for HIV alone (113/180; 75.3%) and HIV-HBV co infection (18/22; 81.8%) was sexual route, and for HIV-HCV co infected patients, Intravenous Drug Use (IDU) was the commonest route of transmission (4/8; 50%). Concomitant infection of HIV and HBV was found to be significantly more in the symptomatic group (59.1%) compared to asymptomatic group (4.5%) (P value < 0.001). CD4+ T-lymphocyte count less than 200/μl was seen in 11 of 30 co-infected cases (36.7%). Conclusion: Co infection with HBV and HCV is a common problem in HIV infected patients in India. Hence, all HIV patients need to be routinely screened for markers such as HbsAg for hepatitis B and Anti HCV for HCV infection so as to take early treatment initiative to prevent the morbidities.

Incidence of blaNDM-1 gene in Escherichia coli isolates at a tertiary care referral hospital in Northeast India.

Purpose: Increasing reports on New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) producing Escherichia coli constitute a serious threat to global health since it is found to be highly resistant to most of the currently available antibiotics including carbapenems. This study has been performed to find out the incidence blaNDM-1 in E. coli isolates recovered from the various clinical samples at a tertiary care referral hospital in Northeast India. Materials and Methods: A total of 270 non-duplicated E. coli isolates were recovered from the various clinical samples at a tertiary care referral hospital in Northeast India. All isolates with reduced susceptibility to meropenem or ertapenem (diameter of zones of inhibition, ≤21 mm) were further phenotypically confirmed for carbapenemase production by modified Hodge test. All screened isolates were also subjected to the polymerase chain reaction detection of blaNDM-1 gene and additional bla genes coding for transmission electron microscopy, SHV, CTX-M, and AmpC. Results: Out of 270 E. coli isolates, 14 were screened for carbapenemase production on the basis of their reduced susceptibility to meropenem or ertapenem. All screened isolates were found to be positive for blaNDM-1 . Each of the blaNDM-1 possessing isolate was also positive for two or more additional bla genes, such as blaTEM , blaCTX-M and blaAmpC . Phylogenetic analysis showed very less variation in blaNDM-1 gene with respect to blaNDM-1 possessing E. coli isolates from other parts of India and abroad. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the incidence of blaNDM-1 in E. coli isolates with a reduced susceptibility to meropenem or ertapenem.

Gnathostomiasis of the anterior chamber.

Ocular involvement with Gnathostoma spinigerum occurs years after the initial infection that is acquired by ingestion of poorly cooked, pickled seafood or water contaminated with third stage larvae. Here we report a case of gnathostomiasis of the left eye of a 32-year-old lady hailing from Meghalaya, India. Her vision had deteriorated to hand movement. Slit lamp examination revealed a live, actively motile worm in the anterior chamber, which was extracted by supra temporal limbal incision and visual acuity was restored.

A serological study of cytomegalovirus infection in pregnant and non-pregnant women at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital.

Primary cytomegalovirus infection is the most common infection during pregnancy that may have long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae in children born to these mothers. It is also associated with many obstetric complications. So the aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in local antenatal population with bad obstetric history and to see the effects, if any, of age, socio-economic status, presenting features and different gestational periods. Seventy-five pregnant women with bad obstetric history were screened for the presence of cytomegalovirus specific IgM and IgG antibodies by doing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, out of which 17(22.66%) had evidence of recurrent cytomegalovirus infection as demonstrated by the presence of cytomegalovirus specific IgM antibodies. All were found to be positive for cytomegalovirus specific IgG antibodies. This indicates that the presence of cytomegalovirus specific IgM antibodies in this population is an evidence of reactivation of a latent infection or re-infection with a different strain of cytomegalovirus. Increased IgM seropositivity was found to be associated with advancing age, poor, socio-economic status, third trimester of pregnancy and bad obstetric history like premature delivery, stillbirth, recurrent spontaneous abortions, intra-uterine growth retardation. Out of 25 randomly selected non-pregnant women of childbearing age, all showed presence of cytomegalovirus specific IgG antibodies and none was found to be positive for primary or recurrent cytomegalovirus infection.

Loa loa in the anterior chamber of the eye: a case report.

An unusual case of loiasis from Assam is reported here. Loa loa is a subcutaneous filarial parasite of man and is transmitted to humans by chrysops flies. The patient presented with foreign body sensation and visual disturbances of the right eye. Examination revealed a white coiled structure in the cornea. Routine blood and other investigations were within normal limits. A live adult worm was extracted and identity was confirmed by microscopy to be Loa loa. Patient was treated with diethylcarbamazine and steroid. We found this case interesting as the worm was present in the anterior chamber--an unusual site and there were no other positive findings besides the lone worm.