Invasive fungal infections in hemato-oncology.

Background: Patients with hematologic malignancies (HM) carries a significant risk of developing invasive fungal infection (IFI) and are associated with a high risk of attributable morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: This review has highlighted the importance of diagnosis and management of invasive fungal infections in highly immunocompromised Hemato-Oncology patients.

Content: IFI continues to be a therapeutic issue in immunocompromised HM patients despite of many advancements in the field of fungal diagnosis and therapies.

A cross-sectional study of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among asymptomatic healthcare workers in a tertiary healthcare centre: Assessing the impact of PPE guidelines.

Purpose: The present study estimates the seroprevalence of SARS-COV-2 among asymptomatic HCWs and assess the impact of various categories of PPE.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of asymptomatic HCW using different levels of PPE as per their risk profile was undertaken between 18th and 24th September 2020. Participant demographics and other relevant details including the levels of PPE used were recorded using a customized questionnaire.

An infrequent etiology of Infective Endocarditis.

Abiotrophia. defectiva is an infrequent but an important cause of infectious endocarditis (IE). IE caused by A.

Performance of three commercial assays for colistin susceptibility in clinical isolates and Mcr-1 carrying reference strain.

Objective: Commercially available antibiotic susceptibility tests (cAST) for colistin are reported to shows variable performance. The current controversy on the colistin susceptibility testing and scarce data from India has left the clinical laboratories in a dilemma on the appropriate and practical approach to tackle the colistin antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) issue. This study was aimed to evaluate the performance of commonly used cAST for colistin against broth microdilution (BMD) as the reference method in the clinical isolates.

Experience of Indian association of medical microbiology external quality assurance scheme centre, New Delhi: Challenges and quality assessment of clinical microbiology laboratories.

Introduction: EQAS program at New Delhi under IAMM was started in January 2014 across North and North east regions of India with 217 participants, which grew up to 540 by 2018.

Materials And Methods: In 2014, 4 analytes per year were sent for 3 exercises, i.e.

Antimicrobial prescribing patterns of surgical speciality in a tertiary care hospital in India: Role of persuasive intervention for changing antibiotic prescription behaviour.

Background: Inappropriate use of antibiotics globally has been linked to increase in antibiotic resistance.

Objectives: This interventional study assessed the impact of antibiotic prescription feedback and focus group discussions (FGD) on hospital-based prescribers before and after the FGD.

Study Design: The present study was performed at a tertiary care centre in New Delhi, wherein 45 units from surgical specialities were included for FGD.

Convergence of Minds: For Better Patient Outcome in Intensive Care Unit Infections.

Background: There is emergence of resistance to the last-line antibiotics such as carbapenems in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), leaving little effective therapeutic options. Since there are no more newer antibiotics in the armamentarium in the near future, it has become imperative that we harness the interdisciplinary knowledge for the best clinical outcome of the patient.

Aims: The aim of the conference was to utilize the synergies between the clinical microbiologists and critical care specialists for better patient care and clinical outcome.

Issues in antifungal stewardship: an opportunity that should not be lost.

Many countries have observed an increase in the incidence of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) over the past two decades with emergence of new risk factors and isolation of new fungal pathogens. Early diagnosis and appropriate antifungal treatment remain the cornerstones of successful outcomes. However, due to non-specific clinical presentations and limited availability of rapid diagnostic tests, in more than half of cases antifungal treatment is inappropriate.

Multidrug-resistant pulmonary & extrapulmonary tuberculosis: A 13 years retrospective hospital-based analysis.

Background & Objectives: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a public health problem of great significance in India. In the present study an attempt was made to analyse the progression of MDR-TB pattern during a course of 13 years (2000-2012) among the patient population at a tertiary care centre in New Delhi, India.

Methods: Mycobacterial isolates obtained on Lowenstein-Jensen (L-J) medium/BacT/ALERT 3D were identified using AccuProbe molecular identification system, routine biochemical tests or GenoType Mycobacteria CM.

Threshold of galactomannan antigenemia positivity for early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in neutropenic children.

Purpose: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Pediatric data on the accuracy and optimal cutoff of galactomannan antigen detection to diagnose IA is sparse and controversial. We evaluated the utility and optimal serum galactomannan assay (GA) cutoff in children.

Ecology of blood stream infection and antibiotic resistance in intensive care unit at a tertiary care hospital in North India.

Objective: To analyse the prevalent microorganisms and their antimicrobial resistance among intensive care unit patients in a tertiary care centre in New Delhi.

Methods: A retrospective study of all consecutive blood cultures from various intensive care unit patients in the hospital during four years (January 2008 to December 2011). Antibiotic consumption data in the intensive care units were also analysed during the same period.

Non-albicans Candida species in blood stream infections in a tertiary care hospital at New Delhi, India.

Background & Objectives: During recent decades, there has been a change in the epidemiology of Candida infections, characterized by a progressive shift from a predominance of Candida albicans to non-albicans Candida species. This study was undertaken to analyze the change in the epidemiology of candidaemia and antifungal use at tertiary care hospital in New Delhi, India, over a period of 10 years.

Methods: A retrospective review of candidaemia between 1999 and 2008 and antifungal use from 2000 to 2008 was performed at Sir Ganga Ram Hosptial, New Delhi.

A ten year analysis of multi-drug resistant blood stream infections caused by Escherichia coli & Klebsiella pneumoniae in a tertiary care hospital.

Background & Objectives: Extensive use of antibiotics has added to the escalation of antibiotic resistance. This study was undertaken to evaluate the association, if any between antibiotic use and resistance in a hospital setting, and also detect the predominant mechanism of antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae over a period of 10 years.

Methods: In a retrospective study of 10 years, a total of 77,618 blood culture samples from 2000 to 2009 from indoor patients were screened and those yielding E.

Trend analysis of antimicrobial consumption and development of resistance in non-fermenters in a tertiary care hospital in Delhi, India.

Objectives: Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii are becoming increasingly important nosocomial pathogens worldwide. To study the evolution of non-fermenters in a tertiary care hospital, we undertook a retrospective 10 year (1999-2008) trend analysis of antimicrobial consumption and resistance in non-fermenters causing bacteraemia.

Methods: Antibiotic consumption and resistance were analysed by linear regression.

Scopulariopsis brevicaulis infection of prosthetic valve resembling aspergilloma on histopathology.

Fungal prosthetic valve endocarditis is an infrequent but serious complication of valve replacement surgery. Approximately 75% of patients are affected with Candida species. Scopulariopsis species affecting prosthetic valve is rarely reported in the literature.

Current status of newer antiinfectives.

In the era of multidrug resistance keen interest needs to be taken in developing newer antiinfective drugs and patents. We all are aware that not many such drugs are readily available and still less are in the pipeline, and thus, such patents are limited in number. This is an attempt to review some of the newer antiinfectives used as antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic agents.