Detection of multi-drug resistance & characterization of mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from North- Eastern States of India using GenoType MTBDRplus assay.

Background & objectives: information on drug resistance tuberculosis is sparse from North-East (N-E) States of Iindia. We undertook this study to detect multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) among MDR-TB suspects, and common mutations among MDR-TB cases using GenoType MTBDRplus. Methods: All MDR suspect patients deposited sputum samples to peripheral designated microscopy centres (DMC) in North-East States. The district TB officers (DTOs) facilitated the transport of samples collected during January 2012 to August 2012 to our laboratory. The line probe assay to detect common mutations in the rpoB gene for rifampicin (RIiF) and katG and inhA genes for isoniazid (IiNH), respectively was performed on 339 samples or cultures. Results: A total of 553 sputum samples from MDR suspects were received of which, 181 (32.7%) isolates were found to be multi-drug resistant. Missing WT8 along with mutation in codon S531L was commonest pattern for rifampicin resistant isolates (65.1%) and missing WT along with mutations in codon S315T1 of katG gene was commonest pattern for isoniazid resistant isolates (86.2%). Average turn-around time for dispatch of LPA result to these sStates from cultures and samples was 23.4 and 5.2 days, respectively. Interpretations & conclusions: The MDR-TB among MDR-TB suspects in North-Eastern States of Iindia was found to be 32.7 per cent. The common mutations obtained for RIiF and IiNH in the region were mostly similar to those reported earlier.

Comparative in vitro activity of beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations against gram negative bacteria.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Currently, the use of beta-lactamase inhibitors in combination with beta-lactam antibiotics represents an effective measure to combat a specific resistance mechanism of beta-lactamase producing organisms. Knowledge about the susceptibility profile of bacteria to different combination agents available is essential to guide appropriate treatment of severe infections in hospitalized patients. The present study compares the in vitro activity of three commercially available beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations (piperacillin/tazobactam, cefoperazone/sulbactam, ticarcillin/clavulanic acid) against beta-lactamase producing gram negative bacteria in a tertiary care hospital in north India. METHODS: A total of 9004 consecutively isolated extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing gram negative bacteria isolated from various clinical samples from patients admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, from September 2003 to August 2004 were included in the study. These isolates were screened for ESBL production by the inhibitor based test recommended by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). Antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out by disc diffusion method as per NCCLS guidelines. RESULTS: Of the 9004 isolates tested, 3232 (35.89%) were sensitive and 568 (6.31%) were resistant to all three combination agents, and rest 5204 (57.80%) were resistant to at least one of the combinations. Susceptibility to piperacillin/tazobactam, cefoperazone/sulbactam, and ticarcillin/clavulanic acid was 81.37, 76.06 and 45.48 per cent respectively. Piperacillin/tazobactam exhibited significantly (P<0.05) greater antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas spp., Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. compared to cefoperazone/sulbactam. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Overall piperacillin/tazobactam was observed to be the best combination agent followed by cefoperazone/sulbactam in our setting. This difference in activities of these combination agents needs to be evaluated further by ascertaining their efficacy in clinical studies.

Species prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of enterococci isolated in a tertiary care hospital of North India.

The present prospective study was carried out to determine the species distribution and antimicrobial susceptibilities of enterococci isolated from clinical samples in a tertiary care hospital of North India. Enterococcus species isolated from blood, urine, pus, sterile fluids and the hospital environment from October 2003 to January 2004 were identified by standard biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the disk diffusion method as per NCCLS guidelines. Out of a total of 105 Enterococcus species recovered during the study period, E. faecium (42.90%) and E. faecalis (40.00%) constituted the predominant isolates. Enterococcus faecium was the commonest blood culture isolate while E. faecalis predominated pus and urine samples. Other species isolated were E. mundtii, E dispar, E. durans, E. avium, E. raffinosus and E. gallinarum. High-level aminoglycoside resistance was detected in 73.3% of isolates. Resistance to vancomycin, teicoplanin and linezolid was not detected. Prevalence of a wide variety of Enterococcus species in clinical samples together with their variable antimicrobial susceptibility patterns emphasizes the need for routinely carrying out detailed speciation and in vitro susceptibility testing of enterococcal isolates in the clinical bacteriology laboratory.

Unusual presentation of enteric fever: three cases of splenic and liver abscesses due to Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi A.

Enteric fever is a multisystem disorder caused mainly by Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi A. It continues to be a major public health problem, especially in developing countries. Unusual presentations of Salmonellosis are rare. We report 3 such cases of young adult males, one of splenic abscess due to Salmonella typhi and one each of liver abscess due to Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi A. A brief review of the literature pertaining to the cases is also given.

Hereditary combined coagulation factor V and factor VIII deficiency: report of two Indian families from Varanasi.

Hereditary deficiencies of blood coagulation factors usually involve a single protein defect. Herewith we are describing clinical features and laboratory approach for the diagnosis of combined coagulation factor V/VIII deficiency which we encountered in 3 patients from 2 unrelated Hindu families of Varanasi.