Publications by authors named "Karuna Tadepalli"

Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the prevalence and impact of candidaemia in 67 ICUs across India, assessing how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced its rates and mortality.* -
  • Data from 401,601 patient days revealed higher candidaemia rates in COVID-19 ICUs (2.52/1000 patient days) compared to non-COVID-19 ICUs (1.05/1000 patient days), with associated mortality significantly higher in COVID-19 cases (61% vs. 41%).* -
  • Analysis identified C. tropicalis as the most common isolated species (26.7%), while C. auris, which had a high mortality rate, accounted for 17.5% of isolates
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Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients receiving mechanical ventilation in India. Surveillance of VAP is essential to implement data-based preventive measures. Implementation of ventilator-associated events (VAE) criteria for surveillance has major constraints for low resource settings, which can lead to significant underreporting.

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Background And Objectives: Bloodstream infection (BSI) is defined by the presence of viable microorganisms in the bloodstream. BSI is one of the major causes of sepsis and subsequent adverse clinical outcomes all across the globe. The present study was undertaken to identify clinico-epidemio-microbiological variables associated with 30-day mortality in patients having BSI with WHO priority pathogens.

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There are a few existing gaps and paucity of literature from Southeast Asia on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among migrant construction workers. The present cross-sectional study was conducted to address this gap among migrant construction workers and their households in Bhopal. The study design included an interview questionnaire survey prior to the enrollment of participants and stool sample collection.

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We present two cases with a history of trauma to the cornea and after a few days patients developed symptoms of corneal ulcers with one showing hypopyon as well. Due to strong suspicion of fungal keratitis both cases were treated with topical and intravenously voriconazole. Fungal culture showed white fluffy growth which was identified as by conventional and molecular methods.

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Background: Fungal infections are now a great public health threat, especially in those with underlying risk factors such as neutropenia, diabetes, high-dose steroid treatment, cancer chemotherapy, prolonged intensive care unit stay, and so on, which can lead to mycoses with higher mortality rates. The rates of these infections have been steadily increasing over the past 2 decades due to the increasing population of patients who are immunocompromised. However, the data regarding the exact burden of such infection are still not available from India.

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A well-structured digital database is essential for any national priority project as it can provide real-time data analysis and facilitate quick decision making. In recent times, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, invasive fungal infections (IFIs) have emerged as a significant public health challenge in India, affecting vulnerable population, including immunocompromised individuals. The lack of comprehensive and well-structured data on IFIs has hindered efforts to understand their true burden and optimize patient care.

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is a saprophyte that can be found in soil, rotting vegetables, and frogs' digestive tracts. Clinically, basidiobolomycosis presents as a persistent infection of subcutaneous tissue affecting the trunk and extremities in an immunocompetent host. We describe a case of subcutaneous basidiobolomycosis in a 56-year-old immunocompetent woman farmer by occupation residing at remote part of central India.

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 Indian hospitals (especially government-run public sector hospitals) have a nonexistent antimicrobial stewardship program (AMSP). After successfully initiating AMSPs in tertiary care hospitals of India, the Indian Council of Medical Research envisages implementing AMSP in secondary care hospitals. This study is about the baseline data on antibiotic consumption in secondary care hospitals.

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We report an uncommon instance of rhinosinusitis by in a known diabetic patient. A melanized fungus called causes a typical plant disease that rots fruits and plants. Infections in humans are currently limited.

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Background: Health-care-associated infections (HAIs) cause significant morbidity and mortality globally, including in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Networks of hospitals implementing standardised HAI surveillance can provide valuable data on HAI burden, and identify and monitor HAI prevention gaps. Hospitals in many LMICs use HAI case definitions developed for higher-resourced settings, which require human resources and laboratory and imaging tests that are often not available.

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Article Synopsis
  • Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant issue in patient care, causing considerable illness and death; this study assesses current infection prevention practices in Indian hospitals involved in a national HAI surveillance network.
  • A survey conducted from October 2015 to September 2018 across 23 Indian hospitals used the WHO IPC assessment tool to evaluate infection control strategies and analyzed the data statistically.
  • Results showed that average scores for key infection prevention activities were below 50%, indicating a need for enhancements in human resources, HAI surveillance, and monitoring/evaluation practices.
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Article Synopsis
  • Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) are common and hard to manage, but many can be prevented through good Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices.
  • A study evaluated IPC practices in 32 Indian hospitals using the WHO’s self-assessment tool, revealing varying levels of IPC implementation: 13% had basic practices, 28% had intermediate, and 59% had advanced practices.
  • The findings highlight the need for quality improvement training for IPC nurses and healthcare professionals to enhance infection control efforts in these facilities.
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During September-December 2020, we conducted a multicenter retrospective study across India to evaluate epidemiology and outcomes among cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-associated mucormycosis (CAM). Among 287 mucormycosis patients, 187 (65.2%) had CAM; CAM prevalence was 0.

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Purpose: Critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients need hospitalization which increases their risk of acquiring secondary bacterial and fungal infections. The practice of empiric antimicrobial prescription, due to limited diagnostic capabilities of many hospitals, has the potential to escalate an already worrisome antimicrobial resistance (AMR) situation in India. This study reports the prevalence and profiles of secondary infections (SIs) and clinical outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in India.

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Article Synopsis
  • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global issue, and implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs (AMSP) can effectively reduce it with little financial cost.
  • A study at an Indian hospital tracked antibiotic use among 1,396 patients over a year, revealing a significant decrease in overall antibiotic consumption, particularly in intravenous antibiotics.
  • The findings suggest that government hospitals can successfully implement low-budget AMSP, emphasizing changes in attitudes and commitment over financial investment for better antibiotic management.
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Introduction: Antimicrobial-resistant HAI (Healthcare associated infection) are a global challenge due to their impact on patient outcome. Implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programmes (AMSP) is needed at institutional and national levels. Assessment of core capacities for AMSP is an important starting point to initiate nationwide AMSP.

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A young woman on long term corticosteroid therapy presented with a discrete hyperpigmented nodular cystic swelling on her upper thigh to the buttock region. There was history of discharging sinuses however at presentation the lesion was painless nondischarging. The lesion was subjected to fine-needle aspiration.

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An elderly diabetic farmer presented with chronic nonhealing ulcer over the left foot, multiple liver abscesses, and right-sided pleural effusion. The patient developed septicemia and multiorgan failure. The pus grew pigment producing .

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a dematiaceous fungus is ubiquitously found in soil around the world. We report an epidural abscess due to in a 48 years male farmer who underwent decompressive laminectomy as primary modality of treatment followed by isolation, identification and confirmation of the isolate from tissue by ITS sequencing. Antifungal therapy with voriconazole and amphotericin B for 3 and 2 weeks respectively improved patient's condition and is presently on regular follow up with no sequelae since last 7 months.

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Subcutaneous entomophthoromycoses is a zygomycosis caused by Basidiobolus ranarum that is endemic in southern India. We report the case of a 63-year-old male from central India who presented with a nontender subcutaneous hyperpigmented plaque on his leg with mild discharge that yielded Basidiobolus ranarum.

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