Relationship of plasmid profile with the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of helicobacter pylori isolates from peptic ulcer disease patients in Chennai.

PURPOSE: One hundred and ten Helicobacter pylori isolates from peptic ulcer disease patients and matched controls were analysed for any possible relationship between the presence of cryptic plasmids and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern. METHODS: Antral biopsies of patients with gastric and duodenal ulcer, gastric cancer, non ulcer dyspepsia and matched controls were cultured for H.pylori. Antibiotic susceptibility and MIC analysis of the clinical isolates was done by E-test. Plasmid profiles of the isolates were analysed using mini ultra prep plasmid kit. RESULTS: Out of the 110 isolates tested, 89.1% isolates were resistant to metronidazole, 10.9 % were resistant to clarithromycin and 0.9% were resistant to multiple drugs. Isolates harbouring plasmids were seen in all the groups and constituted 5.4% of total isolates. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of plasmids in the clinical isolates of H.pylori did not have any correlation with their antibiotic resistance pattern.

Identification of Pneumocystis carinii in induced sputum of AIDS patients in Chennai (Madras).

Induced sputum samples were collected from 32 AIDS patients with respiratory ailments. Pneumcystis carinii was demonstrated in 9 out of 32 AIDS cases by Indirect Immunofluorescence technique (HF). Four cases were positive by all the three techniques namely Giemsa staining, Toluidine blue staining and IIF, three were positive by both toluidine blue and IIF, and two were positive only by IIF. Among other microbial pathogens, acid fast bacilli was demonstrated in all the P carinii positive cases and Candida albicans in 53% AIDS cases from the induced sputum sample.

A comparative study between rapid urease (modified), CLO test, culture and histopathological examination for Helicobacter pylori in patients with acid peptic diseases.

A modified Rapid urease test developed by us was evaluated as a screening test for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) during and endoscopy survey on patients with Acid Peptic Diseases (APD) and Non Ulcer Dyspepsia (NUD). This was compared with commercially available CLO (Campylobacter Like Organism) test, culture and histopathological examination. The modified Rapid urease test gave a sensitivity of 89.83% and a specificity of 100%, when compared to 95% sensitivity and specificity for commercially available CLO test. Our modified Rapid urease test is simple, economical and a quick test in identifying H. pylori in routine screening of patients with APD and NUD.

Evaluation of media for primary isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from faecal samples from children and animals.

Different media were used for primary isolation of Campylobacter. Butzler & Preston medium was found to be more selective compared to Skirows & Blaserwang.

Klebocine typing of Klebsiella species isolated from diarrhoeal children under 5 years in Madras, India.

Klebocine typing of Klebsiella isolated as single pathogen from diarrhoeal diseases in children under five years revealed prominent type 4143 (14.8%) and 3322 (12.9%). There was no seasonal variation noticed.