Metal complexes of isonicotinylhydrazide and their antitubercular activity

The development and spreading of Multi Drug Resistant TB strains is hampering endeavours for the control and administration of tuberculosis [TB]. The expansion episodes of multi-medication safe strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis against first and second line antituberculosis drugs on one side and the unfavourable effects of these drugs on the other side has led the enthusiasm of researcher towards the synthesis of metal complexes of various medication. This approach is born with the expectation of finding new antituberculous operators without or least reactions as well as being active against the resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This study concentrates on the screening of five metal complexes of isoniazid [INH] against five Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. These strains have been confirmed by WHO being active and even proliferating safely even in the presence of pyrazinamide, isoniazid [INH], ethambutol and rifampicin. In this work INH was taken as reference medication. All synthesized complexes and INH were subjected for a month and a half in BACTEC MGIT 960 technique. INH and its Fe [II] complex restrained the development of all bacterial strains for merely two weeks, while the Fe[III], Cu[II], Co [II] and Mn [II] complexes repressed the development five strains for three weeks. Conclusively, the strains utilized in this study were discovered to be more susceptible to the later four complexes than the ligand [INH] drug and its Fe [II] complex. Furthermore, elemental analysis and atomic absorption of all complexes were conducted for the determination of metal to ligand ratio

Pattern of polymicrobial isolates and antimicrobial susceptibility from blood

Objective: To determine the pattern of polymicrobial isolates in blood cultures and antimicrobial susceptibility in a tertiary care hospital of Karachi

Study Design: Cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation [SIUT], Karachi, Pakistan, from September to November 2014

Methodology: Blood culture samples were received from patients, which were processed by BACTEC 9240 system [Becton Dickinson]. All positive blood samples were further analyzed. Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was determined according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute [CLSI] criteria of the year. Identification of growth was based on Gram staining, colony morphology and appropriate biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility was done as per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute [CLSI] recommendations

Results: Out of the 7251 samples submitted, 2931 [40.42%] were positive for growth, 2389 [81.5%] samples were monomicrobial, whereas 542 [18.5%] samples were polymicrobial. Among the polymicrobial isolates, 468 [86.34%] blood culture samples yielded two, 66 [12.17%] yielded three, and 8 [1.47%] yielded four organisms. Gram positive isolates were 281 [51.84%] and Gram negative were 261 [48.15%]. The most frequent isolates in polymicrobial blood stream infection were Acinetobacterspp. [51/542, 9.4%] and Coagulase negative Staphylococcus [84/542, 15.5%], respectively, Staphylococcus aureus isolates, which were resistant to Methicillin, accounted for 24.65%

Third generation Cephalosporins resistance in Klebsiella spp. and Eschericia [E.] coll was found to be 63.6% and 58%, respectively

Carbapenem resistance was seen in 5.9% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 17.6% Acinetobacterspp

Conclusion: Gram positive bacteria were more commonly involved in polymicrobial blood stream infections with Coagulase negative Staphylococcus being the most common Gram positive isolate, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus accounted for one-fourth of isolates. Higher resistance to third generation Cephalosporins was seen in Klebsiella spp. and E.coli isolates. Resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species to Carbapenems was found out to be on the lower side

Frequency of candida albicans in patients with funguria

Objective: To determine the frequency of Candida albicans in patients with funguria

Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, from July to December 2012

Methodology: Patients' urine samples with fungus/Candida were included. Candida albicans was identified by the production of tubular structures [germ tubes] on microscopy as per standard procedure followed by inoculation on Chrom agar [Oxoid] and Corn Meal-Tween 80 agar [Oxoid]. The identification of other non-albicans Candida species was also done both microscopically and macroscopically as per standard procedure

Results: Out of the 289 isolates, 204 [70.6%] were male patients and 85 [29.4%] were female patients, with 165 [57.1%] from the out-patients and 124 [42.9%] from the in-patients. Five species of Candida were found to be prevalent including 87 [30.1%] Candida albicans, 176 [60.9%] Candida tropicalis, 14 [4.8%] Candida parapsilosis, 8 [2.8%] Candida glabrata and 4 [1.4%] Candida lusitaniae. Majority of patients with funguria were aged above 50 years [60.2%]

Conclusion: In the present study, 30.1% patients with funguria had Candida albicans. The most frequently isolated species was Candida tropicalis [60.9%], followed by other non-albicans Candida. This study has shown the emergence of non-albicans Candida as a major cause of candiduria

vitro antibacterial activity of lomefloxacin and comparison with ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin

Lomefloxacin, a defluoridated quinolone has broad antibacterial activity. The objective of this study was to determine the in vitro activity of Lomefloxacin against bacterial strains isolated from respiratory and urinary tract infection. Comparison of Lomefloxacin with Ciprofloxacin and Norfloxacin was also determined. 250 bacterial strains were investigated. 44 strains were from respiratory tract infection [RTI] and 206 strains were from urinary tract infection [UTI]. Minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] was determined by incorporating the antibiotic in Isosensitivity agar. Comparison of Lomefloxacin with Ciprofloxacin and Norfloxacin antibiotic discs was also determined. Results indicted sensitivity of clinical isolates to Lomefloxacin. MIC ranged from 2 to 10 microg /ml. 90% of K. pneumoniae were inhibited with 2 microg/ml. 70% of all isolates from respiratory tract were sensitive to 5 microg/ml. From UTI more than 75% of all isolates were inhibited by 5 microg/ml except E.coli and Pseudomonas spp. Disc sensitivity pattern indicate Ciprofloxacin as the most effective antibiotic against all isolates from RTI and UTI. Sensitivity of Lomefloxacin and Norfloxacin was similar except S.aureus which was more sensitive to Norfloxacin. MIC method is a reliable and efficient method for the determination of sensitivity pattern of antibiotics as it does not have the problem of expired discs or storage conditions

Epidemiology of salmonellosis and its sensitivity in Karachi

Over the past five years 25,000 blood cultures were screened for septicaemia. Of these 6.7% were positive for salmonella species, the commonest being salmonella typhi accounting for 92% of total salmonella isolates. Over the years, S. typhi showed a gradual decline ranging from 96.7 to 87%. While salmonella paratyphi A has shown a gradual increase ranging from 2.5% to 11.4%. Salmonellosis peaked in the year 1990 suggesting an epidemic. The antibiotic sensitivity pattern showed a gradual increase in resistance over the years and even resistance to the new quinolones has emerged. Thus salmonellosis poses a major threat to the community and we must look into the alternative antibiotics to combat the threat