ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: There is a paucity of published data on epidemiology of the viral infections in Punjab, India. The Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) located at Government Medical College (GMC), Amritsar conducts the initial diagnosis of common viruses circulating in the region. AIM: To report the seroprevalence of various viral diseases in Amritsar and neighboring districts of Punjab along with the demographic and geographical data of the patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Whole blood sera samples from a total of 5781 patients suspected of various viral diseases (chikungunya, dengue, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis E, herpes simplex-1 or herpes simplex-2) were received at VRDL, GMC, Amritsar from January 2015 to April 2016 and a cross sectional study was conducted. The diagnosis was based on serological assays. RESULTS: Out of total 5781 suspected cases, 1790 were diagnosed with antibodies for atleast one of the tested viral diseases. Dengue virus was the highest occurring viral disease (56.77%). Male patients infected with viruses outnumbered female cases, except for hepatitis E and herpes simplex-1. The 21-40 years age group appeared to be the most susceptible age group for nearly all studied viral infections. Among the total nine reported outbreak investigations, largest encompassed 1335 dengue cases from Amritsar district. CONCLUSION: VRDL established in GMC, Amritsar has become instrumental in detection of emerging and re-emerging viral diseases including outbreak investigation of communicable diseases. Timely action with the help of adequate information and capacity to diagnose the viruses might help in saving numerous lives.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: An alarming rise in the rates of the antibiotic resistance has now become a serious and an increasingly common public health concern, with severe implications, especially in the intensive care units. A variety of ß-lactamases which include ESBLs, AmpC ß-lactamases and metallo-ßlactamases, have emerged as the most worrisome mechanism of resistance among the gram negative bacteria, which pose a therapeutic challenge to the health care settings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was aimed at knowing the prevalence of various ß-lactamases in the gram negative isolates which were obtained from ICU patients. A total 273 gram negative isolates from 913 clinical samples which were received over a period of one year were processed for their identification and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern was determined. They were then screened for the ß-lactamase production. RESULTS: Among the 273 isolates, the ß-lactamase production was observed in 193 strains. 96 (35.16%) strains were ESBL producers, followed by 30 (10.98%) metallo ß- lactamase (MBL) producers and 15(5.4%) AmpC producers. The major ESBL and AmpC producer was Escherichia coli, while Klebsiella pneumonia was the predominant MBL producer. The co production of the ESBL/MBL/ AmpC ß- lactamases was observed in 52 (19.04%) strains and it was more common in Escherichia coli. A multidrug resistance to the fluoroquinolones and the aminoglycosides was also observed in the ß- lactamase producing organisms. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of the ß- lactamases in the ICU isolates emphasizes the need for a continuous surveillance in the ICUs to detect the resistant strains, strict guidelines for the antibiotic therapy and the implementation of infection control measures to reduce the increasing burden of antibiotic resistance.
