Bacteriological analysis of burn sepsis.

A total of 114 opportunistic bacteria were isolated from 65 swabs from burn sepsis. P. aeruginosa (53.8%) was the most common agent followed by S. aureus (38.4%), Klebsiella Spp. (27.6%), Proteus (18.4%), E. coil (10.7%) and others. The infection was monobacterial in 25 cases (38.4%) and polybacterial in 49 cases (61.5%). P. aeruginosa was predominated in both monobacterial and polybacterial infections. Ciprofloxacin (42.9%) was found to be the most effective antibacterial agent. Results indicate that resistance in burn isolates is higher and increasing day by day.

Bacteriological analysis of various environmental sources in a rural hospital.

Two hundred and five specimens from various sources of hospital ecosystem were processed for isolation of bacteria. 51.7% specimens were found positive and a total of 146 isolates were obtained. Isolation was monobacterial in 35.6% and polybacterial in 16.0%. Bacteria were recovered from discarding jar fluid (84.6%), air (73%), basin swabs (70.5%) hand wash bowl solution (64.2%), cheatle forceps (64%) and thermometer fluid (53.8%) etc. The most common bacteria isolated were P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis, Klebsiella Spp. and E. col and ciprofloxacin (72.88%) was found to be the most effective antibacterial agent.

Norfloxacin induced resistance to fluoroquinolones & structurally unrelated antimicrobial agents in coagulase negative staphylococci.

Nine clinical isolates of coagulase negative staphylococci (CONS) susceptible to norfloxacin (MIC 1.8-2 micrograms/ml) were manipulated in vitro to induce norfloxacin resistance by means of serial passage in brain heart infusion broth containing increasing concentrations of norfloxacin. Exposure of CONS to norfloxacin resulted in 18 to 20 times increase in MIC of norfloxacin and change in in vitro susceptibility to ciprofloxacin, pefloxacin, ofloxacin, kanamycin, neomycin and tobramycin, indicating development of cross resistance to fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides. These results show that exposure to increasing concentrations of norfloxacin can induce the development of resistance to various antimicrobial agents, suggesting its mutagenic role.

A comparison of sputum examination for acid fast bacilli by modified Schaeffer & Fulton stain, Ziehl-Neelsen stain & cold stain.

A comparative study of Ziehl-Neelsen stain, cold stain and modified Schaeffer and Fulton stain was carried out to evaluate the efficiency of modified Schaeffer and Fulton method in sputum examination for acid fast bacilli (AFB). Of 187 sputum samples studied, 67 (35.82%) were reported positive by Ziehl-Neelsen stain and cold stain method while 66 (35.29%) were reported positive by modified Schaeffer and Fulton method. In comparison with Ziehl-Neelsen staining, 98.58 per cent positivity was reported by modified Schaeffer and Fulton method. Modified Schaeffer and Fulton method is found to be simple, reliable, less expensive and as efficient as Ziehl-Neelsen stain and cold stain for demonstration of acid fast bacilli in sputum.

Serotyping and transferability of drug resistance in clinical isolates of E. coli.

Forty nine multiple drug resistant strains of E. coli isolated from UTI were serotyped. The pattern was found to be 057 (eight strains); 0109 (four strains); 020, 038, 068, 0106, 0148. Rough (three each). 012, 054, 0101, 0160 (two each) and 02, 032, 046, 053, 060, 065, 090, 091, 0117, 0118, untypable (one each). The resistance pattern of all E. coli were identified and matted with recepient strain in penassay broth and in human urine. In a penassay broth transfer of resistance was demonstrated in 38 strains (77.5%) while in human urine transfer was demonstrated only in 14 strains (28.57%).