SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection in deceased bodies: implications for infection prevention.

Background & Objectives: High transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 has significant implications on healthcare workers' safety, preservation, handling, transportation and disposal of the deceased bodies. The objective of this study was to detect SARS-CoV-2 antigen in nasopharyngeal samples and its implications in handling and care of COVID-19 deceased bodies.

Methods: A study was conducted at a dedicated COVID-19 centre on deceased individuals from April to December 2020.

Point-Prevalence Survey for the Hospital-Acquired Infections in Intensive Care Units of Trauma Center in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Northern India.

 The burden of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) is all assumption based, and the true burden remains unknown in most countries, particularly in the developing countries where healthcare facilities are suboptimal and knowledge is limited.  This cross-sectional study was conducted at the trauma center of a tertiary care institute from August to September 2019, to assess the burden of HAI and antibiotic resistance pattern of HAI. The total sample size in our study was 105.

National guidelines for sanitation services: Addressing the unmet need of standardizing cleaning practices in tertiary care public health facilities of a developing country.

Background: Cleanliness is one of the main reasons for poor satisfaction among the patients and their attendants visiting healthcare facilities.

Objective: To elevate and transform the sanitation in public sector facilities, a committee was constituted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India to study the existing system of Housekeeping in Central Government Hospitals and draft the Guidelines for house-keeping services, since no such literature is available in context of the healthcare facilities in India.

Methods: The committee ascertained the housekeeping services in three tertiary care hospitals of Central Government and simultaneously conducted the literature review of the best practices in hospital sanitation and housekeeping.

Antimicrobial consumption in intensive care unit patients at level 1 trauma centre in India.

Purpose: Increase in the antimicrobial resistance causes a concern globally. To mitigate the rapidly rising antimicrobial resistance in the health system globally antimicrobial stewardship programs (AMSP) have been advocated. Therefore, we aim to measure aggregate antibiotic consumption by both Defined Daily Dosage (DDD) and Days of Therapy (DOT) methods.

Impact of Hand Hygiene on Hospital-Acquired Infection Rate in Neuro Trauma ICU at a Level 1 Trauma Center in the National Capital Region of India.

 Compliance to hand hygiene (HH) is an important measure in preventing infections to patients in health-care settings. Wellness and safety of patients and health-care workers (HCWs) can be achieved by promoting best practices in infection control through education and advocacy.  To assess the compliance to HH among all cadres of HCWs and its association with hospital-acquired infection (HAI) in patients.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of health care professionals on laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19.

Background: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is currently a global public health concern. Thorough knowledge of diagnostics of COVID-19 amongst health care professionals (HCPs) is critical for timely and accurate diagnosis. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice among HCPs related to the laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19.

Profile of co-infections & secondary infections in COVID-19 patients at a dedicated COVID-19 facility of a tertiary care Indian hospital: Implication on antimicrobial resistance.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns over secondary infections because it has limited treatment options and empiric antimicrobial treatment poses serious risks of aggravating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Studies have shown that COVID-19 patients are predisposed to develop secondary infections. This study was conducted to ascertain the prevalence and profiles of co- & secondary infections in patients at the COVID-19 facility in North India.

Economic competition and its determinants in medical equipment public procurement.

Organisational competitive procurement environment positively impacts prices while supply side factors also determine participation in bidding. With strong competition costs come down. Instances of low competition in equipment purchase in the apex tertiary care hospital led to this study aimed at determining procurement practices, competition in procurement and its determinants.

Exploring signet-ring cells in pregnant female.

Introduction: Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) of the colon and rectum are rare form, which present at an advanced stage and have poor prognosis. Different treatment policies of SRCC during different gestational age of pregnancy are explored from the literature.

Case Study: A 26-year-old young pregnant female with 10-week gestation presented with constipation and blood in stools and on per rectal examination a tender circumferential stricture was present 2 cm above the anal verge.

A journey into insidious world of MALT lymphoma of the ileum: from the beginning to the end.

Introduction: Lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) has been used to describe a marginal zone B-cell lymphoma derived from gastrointestinal lymphoid tissue. mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALToma) of the ileum are extremely rare and only few reports with endoscopic features have been reported.

Case Study: We present a 55-year-old male patient with history of abdominal pain and loss of appetite since 2½ years.