Publications by authors named "Ashima Jamwal"
Ralstonia species are recently emerging as pathogens of human importance. This study was performed to assess the distribution of Ralstonia species among bacteremia patients and the clinical and demographical factors of these patients. This retrospective observational study was performed in the Microbiology Department of a tertiary care center in North India from April 2022 to April 2024.
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- Trauma and accidental injuries are a major global health concern, with India experiencing the highest road accident deaths, accounting for 11% of the world's total.
- A study from January 2023 to January 2024 analyzed wound samples from road traffic accident (RTA) patients in a northern Indian tertiary care center to assess bacterial contamination and antibiotic susceptibility.
- Out of 189 samples, 52.38% showed microbial growth, predominantly Gram-negative bacilli, with none being resistant to colistin; 26.45% of patients developed sepsis, linked to raised procalcitonin levels and low Glasgow Coma Scale scores.
Blood stream infection with Microbacterium species in humans is rare and frequently linked to the presence of immunosuppressed conditions such as patients on chemotherapy or corticosteroids. Presence of indwelling catheters is also a potential risk factor for M. aurum infection.
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- Burkholderia spp., which are opportunistic pathogens, primarily infect individuals with compromised immune systems; this study examined how these bacteria cause blood infections (bacteremia) in patients from a northern Indian university hospital over one year.
- Among 300 patients, the average age was about 34 years, with a majority being male; underlying malignancies were the most common diagnosis, and all patients had catheters, with Burkholderia cenocepacia being the most frequently isolated type.
- Factors such as kidney disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and respiratory disease increased the risk of death from these infections, while patients with malignancies often had better outcomes if the bacteria were treatable with antibiotics.
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- Leuconostoc species, particularly L. lactis, are significant causes of infections in immunocompromised patients, prompting this study to analyze their characteristics in a tertiary care center in northern India.
- Over a two-year period, only 0.21% of 6,742 blood cultures tested positive for L. lactis, mainly affecting younger males (average age 34) with underlying health issues and intravascular devices.
- All L. lactis isolates were found to be sensitive to multiple antibiotics, but the bacteremia resulted in five patient deaths, highlighting the need for rapid identification and targeted treatment for these infections.
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- The study examined antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella enterica serovars involved in bloodstream infections in Northern India from January 2021 to April 2023.
- It identified 32 serovars, with Salmonella Typhi being the most common; all isolates were sensitive to several antibiotics but showed high resistance to pefloxacin and nalidixic acid.
- The findings emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring of Salmonella resistance to inform treatment strategies and manage the risk of developing resistant strains.
A 15-year-old boy presented with a sudden onset of breathlessness for 7 days, gradual loss of weight of 17.6 lbs over the last month and progressive hoarseness of voice for 7 months. The contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) scan revealed a heterogeneously enhancing lesion in the anterior mediastinum with multiple discrete lymph nodes in the cervical and mediastinal locations.
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- Weissella species are often confused with Lactobacillus or Leuconostoc due to similar Gram-staining and vancomycin resistance, prompting this study on their infection patterns.
- Conducted between January 2021 and August 2023, the research focused on 13 patients at a tertiary care center, revealing a male predominance and identifying Weissella confusa as the most common isolate.
- Main risk factors included anemia and prolonged hospital stays, with all isolates showing sensitivity to several antibiotics, though Weissella infections led to three patient fatalities, highlighting the need for prompt identification to ensure proper treatment.
Introduction: species are emerging bacteria capable of causing nosocomial infections in immunocompromised patients or patients with indwelling medical devices.
Hypothesis/ Gap Statement: Information about the incidence of bacteremia from worldwide literature is limited.
Aim: We aimed to recognize the clinical characteristics, frequency of distribution of different species isolates, and their antimicrobial susceptibility profile from bloodstream infections.
Background: Meningitis can be attributed to bacterial, fungal, or viral agents. In this study, we demonstrate the common bacterial agents causing meningitis along with their antibiotics susceptibility pattern in patients of all age groups.
Material And Methods: This retrospective, observational study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples collected from November 2019 to May 2022.
One year experience of bacteremia at a tertiary care hospital in Northern India.
Access Microbiol
September 2023
Introduction: is a Gram-negative, motile, obligate aerobic and non-fermentative bacterium. It is an emerging pathogen in the hospital environment as it is frequently found in various solutions.
Hypothesis/gap Statement: Information about the incidence and risk factors of bacteremia from India is limited.
Kocuria species are normal commensals of the skin that have been found in various environmental niches and are usually considered nonpathogenic. However, according to recent literature, Kocuria spp. have been associated with human infections.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: With the objective of establishing a simple, cost-effective, and effective screening tool for the screening of Human Papilloma Virus infection, the study was undertaken.
Material Methods: This pilot study was conducted on 20 urine samples of women whose cervical swabs were tested positive while screening for Human papilloma virus in asymptomatic women.
Results: HPV genotypes were detected in 94% (16/17) patients in urine samples by real-time PCR while a 100% detection rate (15/15) was observed in the cervical swab samples.
As the world was still recovering from the 2020 pandemic, the devastating impact of Covid-19 driven by the Delta variant shook the world in 2021. As the second wave was declining, there was an unusual surge in Covid-19 positive cases by the end of 2021 which led to global concern about the change in virus characteristics. Whole genome sequencing is critical for understanding a rapidly progressing pandemic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cerebrospinal infections are the cause of poor prognosis among post-neurosurgery patients owing to delay in improvement of neurological functions, leading to increased length of hospital stay, proceeding to disability or death.
Methods And Materials: This retrospective observational study was performed at a tertiary care center in Northern India, where all patients with bacterial cerebrospinal infections from July 2019 to July 2022 were evaluated for post-neurosurgery cerebrospinal shunt infections, and all demographic data and risk factors were extracted from the hospital information system (HIS).
Results: The study includes 150 (150/1986, 7.
India is home to the most significant number of tuberculosis (TB) cases around the globe. The COVID-19 crisis has massively affected TB healthcare services in the country. Are we sufficiently equipped to fight against TB during emergencies? Our study aims to provide a true insight into the disruption of TB care during the pandemic period at a tertiary care hospital in India.
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