Introduction of New Vaccines in State Immunization Schedule - Delhi's Experience.

Immunization is an established, cost-effective, preventive intervention to improve child survival. To provide protection against vaccine preventable diseases, all countries in the world have an immunization program that offers selected vaccines to the eligible beneficiaries. In India, Expanded Program of Immunization was started in 1978, and then Universal Immunization Program was launched in 1985 with six antigens. This article describes the experience with institutionalization of four state-specific vaccines by Delhi in its immunization schedule to enlarge the ambit of immunization services. It attempts to highlight the state's perspective in terms of the implementation policy, operational strategy adopted and evolution of immunization program in the state over 16 years.

Measles Outbreak in High Risk Areas of Delhi: Epidemiological Investigation and Laboratory Confirmation.

OBJECTIVE: To describe epidemiological and laboratory characteristics of the measles outbreaks recorded in the urban slums of Delhi (designated as high risk areas under the Polio program), from February through July 2014. METHODS: As a part of surveillance and containment measures, an extensive field investigation for measles case search (WHO definition) through 'house to house survey' was conducted by district health teams and field volunteers of National Polio Surveillance Project (NPSP), WHO, Delhi from February through July, 2014. The data generated by the health teams was collected and analyzed. RESULTS: About 1.1 million households in the high risk areas of Delhi were surveyed for epidemiological investigations. A total of 1337 suspected measles cases were reported. The case fatality rate (CFR) was 1.2 %. Statistical analysis showed significant relation between age of the child (measles case) and immunization status. Higher numbers of reported cases were above 5 y and less than 9 mo of age. Measles IgM was detected in 132 cases and D8 strain was isolated on genotyping. CONCLUSIONS: The outbreak was predominantly localized to the high risk areas (urban slums) of the city. Low CFR was reported during the outbreaks. The outbreaks highlight the need to extend the reach of immunization services to urban slums and strengthen measles surveillance including laboratory based surveillance.

Lacrimal sac cysticercosis: a rare site for manifestation.

Cysticercosis, a parasitic tissue infestation caused by larval cysts (cysticercus cellulosae) of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, most commonly affects the central nervous system, subcutaneous tissue, skeletal muscle, heart muscle, and the eye. Ocular adnexal infestation in cysticercosis can involve various sites within the eye like vitreous humor, subretinal tissue, extraocular muscle, and lacrimal gland. In this case report, a lump slightly below and medial to inner corner of eye, surgically removed from a 21-year-old male patient, was diagnosed as case of lacrimal sac cysticercosis on histopathological examination. To our knowledge, this is the one of rare sites for manifestation of cysticercus cellulosae.

Assessment of Status of rpoB Gene in FNAC Samples of Tuberculous Lymphadenitis by Real-Time PCR.

Introduction. Multidrug resistance tuberculosis (MDR TB), the combined resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RFM) is a major public health problem in India as it ranks second among the MDR-TB high burden countries worldwide. WHO recommends RFM resistance as a "surrogate marker" for detecting MDR. FNAC is the most widely used noninvasive investigative technique for TB lymphadenitis. Real-time polymerase chain reaction, an extremely versatile technique can be used for the timely detection and treatment of MDR TB by assessing RFM resistance status in the FNAC samples of TB lymphadenitis. Aim. To assess the status of rpoB gene by real-time PCR in FNAC samples of TB lymphadenitis. Materials and Methods. Thirty FNAC samples from patients with persistent LAP or appearance of new LAP after 5 months or more of Anti Tubercular Treatment were assessed for status of rpoB gene by Real-Time PCR using probe covering the "hot spot resistance" region of the rpoB gene. Result. By using probe covering codons 531 and 526 of rpoB gene, we could detect 17 of 30 (56.7%) rifampin resistant isolate. The PCR could detect Mtb DNA in 100% of cases. Conclusion. Use of molecular methods like Real-Time PCR for detection of MDR-TB in FNAC samples is time saving, logical and economical approach over the culture based method.

An unusual case of adult filarial oophoritis.

Ovaries are the least involved site of infection in the female genital tract. Parasitic infestations of the ovary are even rarer. We report an unusual case of adult filariasis of the ovary discovered incidentally on histopathologic examination. Panhysterectomy was performed on a 47-year-old north Indian woman with multiple uterine fibroids, where menorrhagia was unresponsive to hormonal therapy. An adult nongravid female filarial worm was identified in the dilated ovarian lymphatic system. The host local immune response was minimal. Subsequent work-up failed to show any physical stigmata or diagnostic evidence of the disease. The structural details of the adult worm are characteristic to permit its recognition on histologic examination. The involvement of an adult worm in the female genital tract is distinctly uncommon in comparison with the male genital involvement. Till date, only a handful of cases of ovarian adult filariasis are reported.